Neurofilament Light Chain as a Biomarker for Cognitive Decline in Parkinson Disease. Issue 12 (4th September 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Aamodt, Whitley W.; Waligorska, Teresa; Shen, Junchao; Tropea, Thomas F.; Siderowf, Andrew; Weintraub, Daniel; Grossman, Murray; Irwin, David; Wolk, David A.; Xie, Sharon X.; Trojanowski, John Q.; Shaw, Leslie M.; Chen‐Plotkin, Alice S.
• Is Part Of: Movement disorders. Volume 36:Issue 12(2021)
• Page Start: 2945
• Page End: 2950
• Publication Date: 2021-09-04
• Subjects: neurofilament light chain protein -- NfL -- biomarkers -- Parkinson's disease -- prognosis; Movement disorders -- Periodicals; 610
• DOI: 10.1002/mds.28779
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3185

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Background: Neurofilament light chain protein (NfL) is a promising biomarker of neurodegeneration. Objectives: To determine whether plasma and CSF NfL (1) associate with motor or cognitive status in Parkinson's disease (PD) and (2) predict future motor or cognitive decline in PD. Methods: Six hundred and fifteen participants with neurodegenerative diseases, including 152 PD and 200 healthy control participants, provided a plasma and/or cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) NfL sample. Diagnostic groups were compared using the Kruskal−Wallis rank test. Within PD, cross‐sectional associations between NfL and Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (UPDRS‐III) and Mattis Dementia Rating Scale (DRS‐2) scores were assessed by linear regression; longitudinal analyses were performed using linear mixed‐effects models and Cox regression. Results: Plasma and CSF NfL levels correlated substantially (Spearman r = 0.64, P < 0.001); NfL was highest in neurocognitive disorders. PD participants with high plasma NfL were more likely to develop incident cognitive impairment (HR 5.34, P = 0.005). Conclusions: Plasma NfL is a useful prognostic biomarker for PD, predicting clinical conversion to mild cognitive impairment or dementia. © 2021 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society