Plasma neurofilament light and brain volumetric outcomes among middle-aged urban adults

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 v1 (2004-2009) and v2 (2009-2013) plasma NfL exposure and ancillary sMRI data at vscan (2011-2015, n = 179, mean v1 to vscan time: 5.4 years). Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were conducted, overall, by sex, and race, correcting for multiple testing with q-values. NfL(v1) was associated with larger WMLV (both Loge transformed), after 5-6 years' follow-up, overall (& beta; = +2.131 & PLUSMN; 0.660, b = +0.29, p = 0.001, and q = 0.0029) and among females. NfLv2 was linked to a 125 mm3 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 (8NfLbayes). Among African American adults, NfLv1 was inversely related to total, gray and white matter volumes. Plasma NfL may reflect future brain pathologies in middle-aged adults. & COPY; 2023 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Elevated levels of plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) have been found to be associated with dementia, but the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. This study examined the relationship between plasma NfL and brain structural markers using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), revealing associations with white matter lesion volume, hippocampal volume, and brain volumes. These findings suggest that plasma NfL could serve as a potential biomarker for predicting future brain pathologies in middle-aged adults.