In this prospective cohort study using Simoa technology for the detection of low abundance proteins, we showed that blood levels of neuronal markers UCH-L1 and NF-L, but not astrocyte marker GFAP, were elevated at hospital admission in children with cerebral malaria, who present in a coma, and in children with severe malarial anaemia, who have no clinical signs of neurologic disease. The gene discussed is NEFL; the disease is cerebral malaria.