Clinical Division of Neurogeriatrics, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Institute for Medical Informatics, Statistics and Documentation, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
Aging (Albany NY). 2021 Dec 18;13(24):25729-25738. doi: 10.18632/aging.203790.
Serum neurofilament light (sNfL) is a promising marker for neuro-axonal damage and it is now well known that its levels also increase with higher age. However, the effect of other determinants besides age is still poorly investigated. We therefore aimed to identify factors influencing the sNfL concentration by analysing a large set of demographical, life-style and clinical variables in a normal aging cohort.
sNfL was quantified by single molecule array (Simoa) assay in 327 neurologically inconspicuous individuals (median age 67.8±10.7 years, 192 female) who participated in the Austrian Stroke Prevention Family Study (ASPS-Fam). Random forest regression analysis was used to rank the association of included variables with sNfL in the entire cohort and in age-stratified subgroups. Linear regression then served to identify factors independently influencing sNfL concentration.
Age (β=0.513, p<0.001) was by far the most important factor influencing sNfL, which was mainly driven by individuals ≥60 years. In age stratified sub-groups, body mass index (BMI) (β=-0.298, p<0.001) independently predicted sNfL in individuals aged 38-60 years. In individuals ≥60 years, age (β=0.394, p<0.001), renal function (β=0.376, p<0.001), blood volume (β=-0.198, p=0.008) and high density lipoprotein (HDL) (β=0.149, p=0.013) were associated with sNfL levels.
Age is the most important factor influencing sNfL concentrations, getting increasingly relevant in elderly people. BMI further influences sNfL levels, especially at younger age, whereas renal function gets increasingly relevant in the elderly.
血清神经丝轻链（sNfL）是一种有前途的神经轴突损伤标志物，现在已知其水平也随着年龄的增加而升高。然而，除年龄以外的其他决定因素的影响仍未得到充分研究。因此，我们旨在通过分析奥地利卒中预防家族研究（ASPS-Fam）中大量的人口统计学、生活方式和临床变量，确定影响 sNfL 浓度的因素。
在 327 名神经学上无明显异常的个体（中位年龄 67.8±10.7 岁，192 名女性）中，通过单分子阵列（Simoa）检测血清神经丝轻链浓度。采用随机森林回归分析对包括变量与整个队列和年龄分层亚组中 sNfL 的相关性进行排序。然后进行线性回归以确定独立影响 sNfL 浓度的因素。
年龄（β=0.513，p<0.001）是影响 sNfL 的最重要因素，主要由≥60 岁的个体驱动。在年龄分层亚组中，在 38-60 岁的个体中，体重指数（BMI）（β=-0.298，p<0.001）独立预测 sNfL。在≥60 岁的个体中，年龄（β=0.394，p<0.001）、肾功能（β=0.376，p<0.001）、血容量（β=-0.198，p=0.008）和高密度脂蛋白（HDL）（β=0.149，p=0.013）与 sNfL 水平相关。
年龄是影响 sNfL 浓度的最重要因素，在老年人中越来越重要。BMI 进一步影响 sNfL 水平，尤其是在较年轻的年龄，而肾功能在老年人中越来越重要。
