Chen Tong, Zheng Wei, Zhang Yan, Xu Qian
Department of Neurology, Xuzhou Central Hospital, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Department of Outpatient, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China.
Medicine (Baltimore). 2025 Aug 29;104(35):e44230. doi: 10.1097/MD.0000000000044230.
Neurofilament light chain (NfL) is an important biomarker for neuronal damage, widely used in the study of neurodegenerative diseases. The weight-adjusted-waist index (WWI), as a measure of abdominal obesity, is closely related to metabolic diseases. However, the association between WWI and NfL has not been systematically investigated. This study aimed to evaluate the association between WWI and serum neurofilament light chain (sNfL) levels. This study was based on data from the 2013 to 2014 cycle of the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, including 1964 adult participants. Multiple linear regression models were used to analyze the association between WWI and sNfL, adjusting for covariates such as sex, age, race, and lifestyle factors. Restricted cubic spline models were applied to assess potential nonlinear relationships. Subgroup analyses were conducted for sex, age, race, education level, smoking, drinking, depression, and diabetes. WWI was positively correlated with sNfL. In the unadjusted Model 1, the regression coefficient was 0.18 (95% CI: 0.15-0.22, P < .001); after adjusting for all covariates, the association remained significant (β = 0.04, 95% CI: 0.002-0.07, P = .04). The restricted cubic spline analysis revealed a U-Shaped nonlinear relationship between WWI and sNfL, with a threshold inflection point at 10.38 cm/√kg. Subgroup analysis indicated that the positive association between WWI and sNfL was significant across most subgroups, particularly in older populations. This study demonstrates a significant U-Shaped nonlinear association between WWI and sNfL levels. These findings provide new evidence linking abdominal obesity to neuronal health and offer critical insights for developing obesity-related intervention strategies aimed at mitigating neurodegenerative risks.
神经丝轻链（NfL）是神经元损伤的重要生物标志物，广泛应用于神经退行性疾病的研究。体重调整腰围指数（WWI）作为衡量腹部肥胖的指标，与代谢性疾病密切相关。然而，WWI与NfL之间的关联尚未得到系统研究。本研究旨在评估WWI与血清神经丝轻链（sNfL）水平之间的关联。本研究基于2013年至2014年全国健康与营养检查调查的数据，包括1964名成年参与者。采用多元线性回归模型分析WWI与sNfL之间的关联，并对性别、年龄、种族和生活方式因素等协变量进行调整。应用受限立方样条模型评估潜在的非线性关系。对性别、年龄、种族、教育水平、吸烟、饮酒、抑郁和糖尿病进行亚组分析。WWI与sNfL呈正相关。在未调整的模型1中，回归系数为0.18（95%CI：0.15 - 0.22，P <.001）；在对所有协变量进行调整后，该关联仍然显著（β = 0.04，95%CI：0.002 - 0.07，P = 0.04）。受限立方样条分析显示WWI与sNfL之间存在U型非线性关系，阈值拐点为10.38 cm/√kg。亚组分析表明，WWI与sNfL之间的正相关在大多数亚组中都很显著，尤其是在老年人群中。本研究表明WWI与sNfL水平之间存在显著的U型非线性关联。这些发现为将腹部肥胖与神经元健康联系起来提供了新的证据，并为制定旨在降低神经退行性风险的肥胖相关干预策略提供了关键见解。
