Fig. 2

Associations between baseline NfL levels and longitudinal changes in ADAS-Cog scores, hippocampal volumes, and WMH volumes. Data show the associations between baseline plasma NfL and longitudinal changes in ADAS-Cog scores (left panel), hippocampal volumes (middle panel), and WMH volumes (right panel). Higher baseline plasma NfL levels were associated with steeper increases in ADAS-cog scores and WMH volumes, and steeper decreases in hippocampal volumes over time (all p-values < 0.001). Of outcome variables, ADAS-Cog score and WMH volume were square root transformed due to non-normal distribution. Continuous variables, including plasma NfL level and outcome variables, were standardized to z-scores. The plotted lines represent estimated z-scores of ADAS-Cog scores, hippocampal volumes, or WMH volumes over time under the condition of baseline plasma NfL at mean -1SD, mean, and mean + 1SD. P-values were calculated to identify the significance of the two-way interaction term including baseline NfL level and time. Models were adjusted for the following covariates: baseline age, sex, years of education, APOE ε4 allele count, ever smoking, alcohol abuse, SGDS, Aβ status, hypertension, DM, impaired kidney function, obesity, and baseline cognitive status (MCI or CU). Abbreviations: ADAS-Cog, Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive subscale; APOE, apolipoprotein E; CU, cognitively unimpaired; DM, diabetes mellitus; MCI, mild cognitive impairment; NfL, neurofilament light chain; SD, standard deviation; SGDS, Short form of Geriatric Depression Scale; SUVR, standard uptake value ratio; WMH, white matter hyperintensity