Neurofilament Light Chain and Disability Measures as Predictors of Cognitive Decline in Early Multiple Sclerosis

25 July 2025 : Clinical Research

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

Authors information Article notes Copyright and License information

Introduction Material and Methods Results Discussion Conclusions References

Related articles Order reprints Share article Share by email

View HTML version

Table 2 Comparison of characteristics between cognitively impaired (−) and intact (+) groups.

Variable/test	SDMT(+)n=89	SDMT(−)n=10	p	BVMT-R(+)n=89	BVMT-R(−)n=10	p
Age, years	33.0 [16.0]	52.0 [31.0]	0.301	33.0 [17.0]	45.0 [22.0]	0.764
Education, years	16.0 [3.0]	15.3 [4.1]	0.283	16.0 [2.0]	13.0 [4.0]	0.096
EDSS	2.0 [1.5]	3.8 [4.8]	0.196	2.0 [1.5]	4.0 [4.0]	0.925
NHPT, s	22.5 [6.6]	30.6 [7.0]		22.5 [6.6]	26.9 [8.4]
T25FWT, s	4.0 [1.1]	6.6 [2.4]		4.0 [1.2]	5.0 [3.3]	0.250
CSF NfL, ng/mL	1078.1 [1923.1]	965.9 [4800.7]	0.713	952.5 [1799.0]	4479.5 [4202.1]	0.301
sNfL, pg/mL	11.6 [13.9]	15.6 [34.5]	0.089	11.5 [13.1]	20.8 [21.6]	0.301

Age, years	32.5 [17.0]	35.0 [22.0]	0.602	32.0 []¹³	36.0 []²⁵	0.475
Education, years	16.0 [2.0]	15.0 [4.0]	0.870	16.0 [2]	15.0 [4.0	0.647
EDSS	2.0 [1.5]	2.0 [2.0]	0.844	2.0 [1.5]	2.0 [2.5]	0.951
NHPT, s	22.2 [6.7]	25.3 [5.5]	0.350	21.9 [6.5]	25.3 [6.6]	0.079
T25FWT, s	4.0 [1.2]	4.5 [1.3]	0.203	4.0 [1.2]	4.5 [1.5]	0.147
CSF NfL, ng/mL	966.2 [1766.1]	1078.1 [3984.4]	0.148	938.4 [1484.7]	1078.1 [3984.4]	0.116
sNfL, pg/mL	13.0 [13.6]	11.1 [17.8]	0.953	12.3 [13.7]	11.6 [17.5]	0.776
(+) – cognitive domain intact; (−) – cognitive domain impaired; BVMT-R – Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised; CG – control group; COG – overall cognitive impairment; CSF – cerebrospinal fluid; CVLT-II – California Verbal Learning Test II; MS – multiple sclerosis; NHPT – Nine-Hole Peg Test; SDMT – Symbol Digit Modalities Test; PwMS – patients with MS; sNfL – serum neurofilament light chain; T25FWT – Timed 25-Foot Walk Test; s – seconds; EDSS – Expanded Disability Status Scale.

Back to the Article