Document Type
Journal Article
Publication Title
Brain and Behavior
Publisher
Wiley
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
32276
Abstract
Objectives: Serum neurofilament light protein (NfL) is a promising marker of disease onset and progression in Huntington's disease (HD). This study investigated associations between lifestyle factors and NfL levels in HD mutation carriers compared to healthy age- and sex-matched controls. Materials and Methods: Participants included 29 HD mutation carriers and 15 healthy controls. Associations between serum NfL concentrations and lifestyle factors, including cardiorespiratory fitness, social network size and diversity, physical activity, cognitive reserve, smoking status, and alcohol consumption, were examined using a stepwise multivariable linear regression model. Results: Higher NfL levels were associated with lower cognitive reserve, social network size and diversity and cardiorespiratory fitness in HD mutation carriers. Group × lifestyle factor effects were observed between lower serum NfL levels and a greater social network diversity. Conclusion: These findings highlight a relationship between lifestyle factors and NfL levels in HD mutations carriers; however, longitudinal studies are required to confirm if these observed relationships persist over time. © 2020 The Authors. Brain and Behavior published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
DOI
10.1002/brb3.1578
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Comments
Cruickshank, T., Bartlett, D., Govus, A., Hannan, A., Teo, W. P., Mason, S., ... & Ziman, M. (2020). The relationship between lifestyle and serum neurofilament light protein in Huntington’s disease. Brain and Behavior, 10(5), e01578. https://doi.org/10.1002/brb3.1578