biostudies-literatureBerek KTiroler Wissenschaftsförderunge70165https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11570677biostudies-literatureUnknown14(11)<h4>Background</h4>Neurological symptoms are common in acute mountain sickness (AMS); however, the extent of neuroaxonal damage remains unclear. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is an established blood biomarker for neuroaxonal damage.<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate whether plasma (p) NfL levels increase after simulated altitude exposure, correlate with the occurrence of AMS, and might be mitigated by preacclimatization.<h4>Methods</h4>Healthy subjects were exposed to simulated high altitude (4500 m) by the use of a normobaric hypoxic chamber at the University of Innsbruck two times, that is, within Cycle 1 (C1) over 12 h, and within Cycle 2 (C2) for another 12 h but with a random assignment to prior acclimatization or sham acclimatization. Before each cycle (measurement [M] 1 and 3) and aBrain and behaviorNeurofilament Light Chain Is Associated With Acute Mountain Sickness.PMC11570677F430.68Bsteh GBerek KHegen HWille MBurtscher MLindner APonleitner MDeisenhammer FEngler CPauli FDTreml BKleinsasser ABerger TfalseNeurofilament Light Chain Is Associated With Acute Mountain Sickness.<h4>Background</h4>Neurological symptoms are common in acute mountain sickness (AMS); however, the extent of neuroaxonal damage remains unclear. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is an established blood biomarker for neuroaxonal damage.<h4>Objective</h4>To investigate whether plasma (p) NfL levels increase after simulated altitude exposure, correlate with the occurrence of AMS, and might be mitigated by preacclimatization.<h4>Methods</h4>Healthy subjects were exposed to simulated high altitude (4500 m) by the use of a normobaric hypoxic chamber at the University of Innsbruck two times, that is, within Cycle 1 (C1) over 12 h, and within Cycle 2 (C2) for another 12 h but with a random assignment to prior acclimatization or sham acclimatization. Before each cycle (measurement [M] 1 and 3) and a2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Nov2026-07-16T23:54:25.078Z2025-04-04T02:51:14.249ZS-EPMC115706773955210310.1002/brb3.70165