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The following is a summary of “Interaction between exercise and neurofilament light chain in multiple sclerosis: a systematic review and meta-analysis,” published in the October 2024 issue of Neurology by Salamatullah et al.  

Exercise is associated with improved symptom management and functional recovery in people with multiple sclerosis (pwMS), but its effect on neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels remains uncertain.  

Researchers conducted a retrospective study assessing the interaction between exercise and NfL levels in pwMS.  

They systematically searched Medline, CENTRAL, Embase, and Web of Science (March 2024) to identify relevant studies. The inclusion criteria were studies that reported mean changes in NfL levels pre- and post-training, comparing different exercise programs or control groups with no exercise activity. A random-effects model was used to calculate the standardized mean difference (SMD) with a 95% CI.  

The results showed that 222 articles and 7 studies met the inclusion criteria, revealing that patients who participated in structured exercise programs experienced a significant decrease in blood NfL levels post-training (SMD -0.55; 95% CI -1.00, -0.09). Specifically, outdoor Pilates and home-based training were associated with notable reductions in NfL levels (SMD -2.08; 95% CI -2.99, -1.17) and (SMD -1.46; 95% CI -2.28, -0.64), respectively. No significant differences in blood NfL levels were observed in the control group (SMD 0.04; 95% CI -0.17, 0.24). Subgroup analysis indicated that 8 weeks of exercise significantly reduced blood NfL levels (SMD -0.73; 95% CI -1.35, -0.11).  

The study concluded that exercise may play a role in reducing NfL levels in pwMS, warranting further investigation through more rigorous studies.  

Source: msard-journal.com/article/S2211-0348(24)00386-9/abstract