ALZHEIMER’S & DEMENTIA: DIAGNOSIS, ASSESSMENT & DISEASE MONITORING. 2019;11:700-709. | OCTOBER 22, 2019

Osborn KE, Khan OA, Kresge HA, Bown CW, Liu D, Moore EE, Gifford KA, Acosta LMY, Bell SP, Hohman TJ, Blennow K, Zetterberg H and Jefferson AL.

Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Diagnosis, Assessment & Disease Monitoring. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dadm.2019.08.008

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION

Neuroaxonal damage may contribute to cognitive changes preceding clinical dementia. Accessible biomarkers are critical for detecting such damage.

METHODS

Plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) neurofilament light (NFL) were related to neuropsychological performance among Vanderbilt Memory & Aging Project participants (plasma n = 333, 73 ± 7 years; CSF n = 149, 72 ± 6 years) ranging from normal cognition (NC) to mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Models adjusted for age, sex, race/ethnicity, education, apolipoprotein E ε4 carriership, and Framingham Stroke Risk Profile.

RESULTS

Plasma NFL was related to all domains (P values ≤ .008) except processing speed (P values ≥ .09). CSF NFL was related to memory and language (P values ≤ .04). Interactions with cognitive diagnosis revealed widespread plasma associations, particularly in MCI participants, which were further supported in head-to-head comparison models.

DISCUSSION

Plasma and CSF NFL (reflecting neuroaxonal injury) relate to cognition among non-demented older adults albeit with small to medium effects. Plasma NFL shows particular promise as an accessible biomarker with relevance to cognition in MCI.