Ezzatvar, YasminLópez Gil, José FranciscoYáñez-Sepúlveda, RodrigoOlivares-Arancibia, JorgePáez-Herrera, JacquelineGarcía Hermoso, Antonio2025-07-022025-06-01Ezzatvar, Y., López-Gil, J. F., Yáñez-Sepúlveda, R., Olivares-Arancibia, J., Páez-Herrera, J., García-Hermoso, A. (2025). Physical activity is related to lower levels of neurofilament light and plasma tau protein: a 22-year follow-up study from adolescence to adulthood. Journal of Adolescent Health, 76(6), 1055-1061. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.02.0031054-139X10.1016/j.jadohealth.2025.02.003https://academica-e.unavarra.es/handle/2454/54367Purpose: To investigate the association between physical activity (PA) and neurodegeneration biomarkers from adolescence to adulthood by examining tau protein and neurofilament light chain (NfL) levels in blood samples. Methods: The study analyzed data from adolescents aged 12–19 years who participated in Waves I (1994–1996) and V (2016–2018) of the Add Health study over a span of 22 years. It assessed PA through self-reported questionnaires. Neurodegeneration measures at Wave V used venous blood collected via phlebotomy. Samples were analyzed using single-molecule array (Simoa) technology on a Quanterix HD-1 analyzer, using digital enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to quantify NfL and tau proteins from serum and plasma samples. Results: In the present study, 3,182 individuals participated, with females comprising 61% of the sample. Participants adhering to the PA guidelines in both waves reported lower levels of NfL (−0.583 pg/mL, 95% bias-corrected and accelerated (BCa) confidence interval (CI): −1.235 to −0.068) and tau protein levels (−0.244 pg/mL, 95% BCa CI: −0.405 to −0.078). Adjusted analyses confirmed significant lower levels of tau protein (−0.210 pg/mL, 95% BCa CI: −0.350 to −0.072) for Wave I adherents and even lower levels in NfL (−0.421 pg/mL, 95% BCa CI: −0.929 to −0.007) and tau protein levels (−0.229 pg/mL, 95% BCa CI: −0.412 to −0.053) for active participants in both waves. Discussion: Our findings suggest that consistent engagement in PA may reduce certain neurodegenerative biomarkers, potentially influencing neurological health outcomes.application/pdfeng© 2025 Society for Adolescent Health and Medicine. This manuscript version is made available under the CC-BY-NC-ND 4.0ExerciseNeurofilament lightProspective designTau proteininfo:eu-repo/semantics/article2025-07-02info:eu-repo/semantics/embargoedAccess