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Blood Test Predicts Long-Term Cognitive Function After Cardiac Arrest
Key takeaway
A simple blood test taken 48 hours after cardiac arrest can predict long-term brain injury risk, allowing earlier treatment to improve recovery and quality of life for cardiac arrest survivors.
Quick Explainer
This study found that measuring neurofilament light chain levels in the blood 48 hours after a cardiac arrest can accurately predict a survivor's long-term cognitive function, outperforming the currently used biomarker neuron-specific enolase. This could help clinicians identify high-risk patients and optimize rehabilitation.