Plasma Neurofilament Light and Brain Volumetric Outcomes Among Middle-aged Urban Adults

Overview

Journal Neurobiol Aging

Publisher Elsevier

Specialties Geriatrics
Neurology
Physiology

Date 2023 May 31

PMID 37257406

Authors

May A Beydoun

Nicole Noren Hooten

Hind A Beydoun

Jordan Weiss

Ana I Maldonado

Leslie I Katzel

Christos Davatzikos

Rao P Gullapalli

Stephen L Seliger

Guray Erus

Michele K Evans

Alan B Zonderman

Shari R Waldstein

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Elevated plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is associated with dementia though underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We examined cross-sectional relationships of time-dependent plasma NfL with selected brain structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) prognostic markers of dementia. The sample was drawn from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span (HANDLS) study, selecting participants with complete v (2004-2009) and v (2009-2013) plasma NfL exposure and ancillary sMRI data at v (2011-2015, n = 179, mean v to v time: 5.4 years). Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were conducted, overall, by sex, and race, correcting for multiple testing with q-values. NfL was associated with larger WMLV (both Log transformed), after 5-6 years' follow-up, overall (β = +2.131 ± 0.660, b = +0.29, p = 0.001, and q = 0.0029) and among females. NfLv was linked to a 125 mm lower left hippocampal volume (p = 0.004 and q = 0.015) in reduced models, mainly among males, as was observed for annualized longitudinal change in NfL (δNfL). Among African American adults, NfL was inversely related to total, gray and white matter volumes. Plasma NfL may reflect future brain pathologies in middle-aged adults.

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