25 July 2025 : Clinical Research
Neurofilament Light Chain and Disability Measures as Predictors of Cognitive Decline in Early Multiple Sclerosis
Vera Taluntiene ABCDEF 1*, Natasa Giedraitiene ADE 1, Rasa Kizlaitiene AE 1, Mantas Vaisvilas DE 1, Gintaras Kaubrys
ACDE 1
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.948757
Med Sci Monit 2025; 31:e948757
Table 1 Demographic and clinical characteristics of study participants.
| Variable | PwMS | CG | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sex, n (%) | Women 63 (63.6%)Men 36 (36.4%) | Women 29 (78.4%)Men 8 (21.6%) | 0.102 |
| Age, years | 32.0 [19.0] | 31.0 [10.0] | 0.308 |
| Education, years | 16.0 [3.0] | 16.0 [2.0] | 0.135 |
| EDSS | 2.0 [1.5] | – | – |
| NHPT, s | 22.9 [6.9] | 18.6 [2.9] | <0.001 |
| T25FWT, s | 4.1 [1.4] | 3.5 [0.7] | <0.001 |
| SDMT | 48.6±12.2 | 55.6±10.3 | 0.110 |
| BVMT-R | 27.0 [8.0] | 31.0 [6.0] | 0.003 |
| CVLT-II | 54.0 [19.0] | 64.0 [10.0] | <0.001 |
| CSF NfL, ng/mL | 1062.8 [2083.3] | – | – |
| Serum NfL, pg/mL | 11.8 [13.8] | 5.8 [4.3] | <0.001 |
| BVMT-R – Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised; CG – control group; CSF – cerebrospinal fluid; CVLT-II – California Verbal Learning Test II; EDSS – Expanded Disability Status Scale; MS – multiple sclerosis; NfL – neurofilament light chain; NHPT – Nine-Hole Peg Test; SDMT – Symbol Digit Modalities Test; PwMS – patients with MS; T25FWT – Timed 25-Foot Walk Test. | |||