Association of Serum Neurofilament Light Chain Concentration and MRI Findings in Older Adults: The Cardiovascular Health Study

Neurology ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 10.1212/WNL.0000000000013229
Author(s):  
Alison E Fohner ◽  
Traci M Bartz ◽  
Russell P Tracy ◽  
Hieab H.H. Adams ◽  
Joshua C Bis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Brain Injury ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Cardiovascular Health Study ◽  
Mri Findings ◽  
Neurofilament Light Chain ◽  
Neurofilament Light ◽  
Brain Infarcts ◽  
History Of

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES:Neurofilament light chain (NfL) in blood is a sensitive but non-specific marker of brain injury. This study sought to evaluate associations between NfL concentration and MRI findings of vascular brain injury in older adults.METHODS:A longitudinal cohort study included two cranial MRI scans performed about 5 years apart and assessed for white matter hyperintensities (WMH) and infarcts. About one year before their second MRI, 1,362 participants (median age 77 years and 61.4% women) without a history of TIA or stroke had measurement of four biomarkers: NfL, total tau, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1. Most (n = 1,279) also had the first MRI scan, and some (n=633) had quantitative measurements of hippocampal and WMH. In primary analyses, we assessed associations of NfL with a 10-point white matter grade (WMG) and prevalent infarcts on second MRI and with worsening WMG and incident infarct comparing the two scans. A p-value <0.0125 (0.05/4) was considered significant for these analyses. We also assessed associations with hippocampal and WMH volume.RESULTS:In fully adjusted models, log2(NfL) concentration was associated with WMG (β=0.27; p=2.3x10-4) and worsening WMG (RR=1.24; p=0.0022), but less strongly with prevalent brain infarcts (RR=1.18; p=0.013) and not with incident brain infarcts (RR=1.18; p=0.18). Associations were also present with WMH volume (beta=2242.9, p=0.0036). For the other three biomarkers, the associations for log2(GFAP) concentration with WMG and worsening WMG were significant.DISCUSSION:Among older adults without a history of stroke, higher serum NfL concentration was associated with covert MRI findings of vascular brain injury, especially the burden of WMH and its worsening. Whether these results offer opportunities for the use of NfL as a non-invasive biomarker of WMH or to control vascular risk factors remains to be determined.

Associations of plasma neurofilament light chain and progranulin with frailty in older adults

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wan‐Hsuan Lu ◽  
Kelly Virecoulon Giudici ◽  
Sophie Guyonnet ◽  
Geetika Aggarwal ◽  
Andrew D. Nguyen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Neurofilament Light Chain ◽  
Neurofilament Light

Abstract TP164: Blood Pressure and Heart Rate Measures and Risk of Covert Brain Infarction and Worsening White Matter in Older Adults

Stroke ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 48 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Lester Y Leung ◽  
Traci M Bartz ◽  
Kenneth Rice ◽  
James Floyd ◽  
Bruce Psaty ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Heart Rate ◽  
White Matter ◽  
Cardiovascular Health ◽  
Brain Infarction ◽  
Health Study ◽  
Cardiovascular Health Study ◽  
Mri Findings ◽  
Increased Risk

Introduction: Covert brain infarction (CBI) and worsening white matter grade (WMG) on serial MRI are associated with increased risk for ischemic stroke and dementia. Hypothesis: We sought to evaluate the association of various measures of blood pressure and heart rate with these MRI findings. Methods: In the Cardiovascular Health Study, a longitudinal cohort study of cardiovascular disease in older adults, we used relative risk regression to assess the risk of incident CBI and worsening WMG associated with mean, variability, and trend in systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and heart rate (HR) measured at four or more annual clinic visits between two brain MRIs. We included participants who underwent both brain MRIs and had no change in antihypertensive medication status, no CBI on the initial MRI, and no stroke before the follow-up MRI. Results: Among 897 eligible participants, incident CBI occurred in 15% and worsening WMG in 27%. Mean SBP mean was strongly associated with increased risk for incident CBI (RR per 10 mmHg 1.29; 95% CI, 1.13-1.47), and DBP mean was strongly associated with increased risk for worsening WMG (RR per 10 mmHg 1.43; 95% CI, 1.23-1.67). DBP variability may be associated with incident CBI (RR per 10 mmHg 1.71; 95% CI, 1.10-2.65), The HR measures were not associated with these MRI findings. Conclusions: Elevated mean levels of blood pressure contribute to covert cerebrovascular diseases. Control of mean blood pressure levels, even in older adults, remains a high priority for prevention of vascular brain injury.

[P2-338]: ARE NEUROFILAMENT LIGHT CHAIN AND WHITE MATTER INTEGRITY RELATED BIOMARKERS FOR FAMILIAL FRONTOTEMPORAL DEMENTIA?

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (7S_Part_15) ◽  
pp. P751-P752 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jessica L. Panman ◽  
Emma Louise van der Ende ◽  
Lieke H.H. Meeter ◽  
Mark J.R.J. Bouts ◽  
Elise G.P. Dopper ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
White Matter ◽  
Frontotemporal Dementia ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
White Matter Integrity ◽  
Neurofilament Light Chain ◽  
Neurofilament Light

scholarly journals Thirty years after anorexia nervosa onset, serum neurofilament light chain protein concentration indicates neuronal injury

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elisabet Wentz ◽  
Sandra Rydberg Dobrescu ◽  
Lisa Dinkler ◽  
Carina Gillberg ◽  
Christopher Gillberg ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Anorexia Nervosa ◽  
Single Molecule ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Axonal Degeneration ◽  
Neuronal Injury ◽  
Serum Levels ◽  
Neurofilament Light Chain ◽  
Neurofilament Light ◽  
National Patient ◽  
History Of

Abstract Little is known about the long-term consequences of anorexia nervosa (AN) in terms of possible brain neuronal injury. We aimed at investigating whether women with adolescent-onset AN exhibit increased serum levels of neurofilament light chain protein (NfL), a biomarker for neuronal injury, compared with matched controls at 30-year follow-up. Blood samples were collected from 34 women with adolescent-onset AN and 38 matched healthy comparison women (COMP), at a mean age of 44 years (range 38–48 years). NfL was measured in serum using the in-house single molecule array (Simoa) method. The individuals were asked whether they or their parents had been diagnosed with dementia. The Swedish National Patient Register was searched for diagnoses related to dementia. Serum NfL concentrations were significantly higher in the AN group (AN 27.7 pg/ml; COMP 19.0 pg/ml; p = 0.041). When individuals with medical/neurological disorders in the AN and COMP groups were excluded, there was a statistically non-significant trend towards higher concentrations in the AN group (AN 27.4 pg/ml; COMP 18.8 pg/ml; p = 0.060). None of the participants had been diagnosed with dementia. There was no significant correlation between serum NfL and AN duration (r = 0.15). There was a moderate negative correlation between the serum NfL concentration and the current BMI in the AN group (r = 0.44). This is the first time that serum NfL has been assessed in middle-aged women with a history of adolescent-onset AN. The results suggest that there might be increased axonal degeneration as a sequel of AN. Individuals remaining underweight had higher serum NfL concentrations than those with a normal/high BMI. Additional studies are needed to confirm increased serum NfL concentrations in individuals recovered from AN. There is a need for further study of axonal degeneration as a consequence of AN.

scholarly journals Renal function is associated with blood neurofilament light chain level in older adults

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shoshin Akamine ◽  
Noriko Marutani ◽  
Daisuke Kanayama ◽  
Shiho Gotoh ◽  
Riki Maruyama ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetes Mellitus ◽  
Older Adults ◽  
Renal Function ◽  
Light Chain ◽  
Neurofilament Light Chain ◽  
Neurofilament Light ◽  
Precise Evaluation ◽  
Patients With Diabetes ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Chain Level

AbstractNeurofilament light chain (NfL) is a novel biomarker of neurodegenerative diseases. It is detectable in the peripheral blood, allowing low-invasive assessment of early signs of neurodegeneration. The level of NfL gradually increases with age; however, what other factors affect it remains unclear. The present study examined the association between blood NfL level and renal function among healthy participants undergoing a health check (n = 43, serum NfL) and patients with diabetes mellitus (n = 188, plasma NfL). All participants were 60 years of age or older; none were diagnosed with dementia. In each group, levels of blood NfL and serum creatinine significantly correlated (coefficient r = 0.50, 0.56). These associations remained statistically significant even after adjustment for age, sex, and body mass index. These findings indicate that blood NfL level might be partially affected by renal function. We recommend measuring renal function for a more precise evaluation of neuroaxonal damage, in particular, among older adults.

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