Biological Omens
Written by Minjae Yoo
Edited by Emily Moran
July 31st 2021
Edited by Emily Moran
July 31st 2021
Advances in medical technology have brought forth not only new cures to illnesses, but equally importantly, new predictive and diagnostic methods. One of the most notable is the widespread use of biomarkers—biological substances and processes that measure an individual’s various medical conditions and susceptibility to diseases. Countless biomarkers have been documented and are in use today, but there remains ongoing research to both uncover new, as well as to reexamine and update existing ones. Indeed, as we improve our understanding of human biology, it is crucial to continuously reassess the validity and accuracy of established biomarkers.
A recent study conducted at the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, led by Dr. Ulrika Sjöbom and Dr. William Hellström, sought to do exactly that. They examined two known biomarkers, neurofilament light (NfL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and their applications. NfL and GFAP are proteins that are active in the nervous system, and are currently used as indicators of neuronal damage in adults. The team at the University of Gothenburg explored whether NfL and GFAP could also be used to forecast early neurodevelopment in infants. They set their focus on preterm infants, particularly, infants born at or before 32 weeks of gestation. While typical gestation periods range from 38-42 weeks, some children are born much earlier, and as a result, are at higher risk of experiencing various developmental disorders. One such condition is known as retinopathy of prematurity (ROP), a neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from incomplete growth of blood vessels surrounding the optic nerve. ROP, although not uncommon, can lead to permanent blindness in the most severe cases.
The team studied the early developmental period of 221 preterm infants for correlations between serum (blood) NfL/GFAP levels and occurrence of ROP. While they found no strong correlation between GFAP levels and risk of ROP, they noticed a stronger correlation between NfL levels and the condition. In particular, infants who showed higher than normal NfL concentration in their blood around 2-4 weeks of age were more likely to develop ROP. Another interesting finding was that high NfL levels at the 2-4 week period seemed to also correlate with further neurodevelopmental problems at around 2 years of age, potentially suggesting a more general use of NfL as a diagnostic tool for neurodevelopment in infants.
Although diagnosis of a condition is hardly the beginning towards complete recovery, predictive analytical methods like the use of biomarkers allow us to be best prepared for when difficulties arise. With continued research, what new biomarkers will be discovered, and in what ways they will improve our diagnostic capabilities is yet to be seen.