Apathy and affective symptoms associated with elevated plasma neurofilament light but not p-tau181 in Alzheimer's disease.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Apathy and affective neuropsychiatric symptoms (NPS) are prevalent in Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet their neurobiological cause is still unclear. We examined associations between plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) and tau pathology (p-tau181) with apathy and affective symptoms in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and AD dementia.

Methods

This longitudinal study analyzed data from 781 participants with MCI and AD dementia enrolled in ADNI, with annual blood samples collected over 4 years. NPS were assessed via the Neuropsychiatric Interview (NPI), and biomarker trajectories were analyzed using mixed-effects models.

Results

Elevated plasma NfL levels were associated with apathy, anxiety and depression in MCI and AD dementia, with apathy linked to a signif

SUBMITTER: Kang MJY 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12305118 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jul-Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature