TABLE 2.

Independent associations of neuroimaging markers with plasma NfL

	Plasma NfL a (outcome)
	All subjects (n = 178)			Cognitively Impaired (n = 151)
Neuroimaging markers	β coefficient	95% CI	P‐value	β coefficient	95% CI	P‐value
Model 1
Medial temporal lobe atrophy scores	0.085	(0.049, 0.121)	<0.001	0.064	(0.024, 0.104)	0.002
White matter hyperintensities volume a	0.102	(0.037, 0.166)	0.002	0.097	(0.029, 0.165)	0.006
Cerebral microbleeds count	0.000	(−0.002, 0.003)	0.711	0.000	(−0.002, 0.003)	0.811
Lacunes count	0.004	(−0.014, 0.021)	0.686	0.004	(−0.014, 0.022)	0.680
Model 2
Medial temporal lobe atrophy scores	0.062	(0.028, 0.097)	0.001	0.047	(0.009, 0.086)	0.017
White matter hyperintensities volume a	0.082	(0.021, 0.142)	0.009	0.085	(0.020, 0.150)	0.011
Cerebral microbleeds count	0.002	(−0.001, 0.004)	0.137	0.002	(−0.001, 0.004)	0.184
Lacunes count	0.005	(−0.012, 0.021)	0.574	0.003	(−0.014, 0.020)	0.722

Notes: Analysis performed in a subcohort of 178 individuals in which all neuroimaging measures were available. To assess the independent contribution of each imaging‐based brain atrophy (MTA scores) or CSVD marker (WMH, CMBs, and lacunes) on plasma NfL, all the neuroimaging markers were entered simultaneously as independent variables in the linear regression model (Model 1), and further adjusted for age and sex (Model 2), as stated below. β, mean difference.

Model 1: Independent variables: MTA scores, WMH volume, CMB count, and lacunes count.

Model 2: Independent variables: MTA scores, WMH volume, CMB count, lacunes count, age, and sex.

Interpretation:

MTA scores: For every unit increase in MTA scores, the log₁₀ [plasma NfL] will increase by β unit.

WMH volume: For every 1% increase in WMH volume, the [plasma NfL] will increase by β%.

^a Log‐transformed.

Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; CMB, cerebral microbleed; CSVD, cerebral small vessel disease; MTA, medial temporal lobe atrophy; NfL, neurofilament light chain; WMH, white matter hyperintensities.