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Elevated plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL) is associated with dementia though underlying mechanisms remain unknown. We examined cross-sectional relationships of time-dependent plasma NfL with selected brain structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) prognostic markers of dementia. The sample was drawn from the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span (HANDLS) study, selecting participants with complete v 1 (2004–2009) and v 2 (2009–2013) plasma NfL exposure and ancillary sMRI data at v scan (2011–2015, n = 179, mean v 1 to v scan time: 5.4 years). Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were conducted, overall, by sex, and race, correcting for multiple testing with q-values. NfL (v1) was associated with larger WMLV (both Log e transformed), after 5–6 years' follow-up, overall (β = +2.131 ± 0.660, b = +0.29, p = 0.001, and q = 0.0029) and among females. NfLv 2 was linked to a 125 mm3 lower left hippocampal volume (p = 0.004 and q = 0.015) in reduced models, mainly among males, as was observed for annualized longitudinal change in NfL (δNfL bayes). Among African American adults, NfL v1 was inversely related to total, gray and white matter volumes. Plasma NfL may reflect future brain pathologies in middle-aged adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Anemia and red cell distribution width (RDW) have been linked to poor cognitive performance, pending studies of underlying mechanisms.Objective: We examined cross-sectional relationships of initial RDW status (v1), RDW change (δ), and anemia with brain structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI) markers, including global and cortical brain and hippocampal and white matter lesion (WML) volumes, 5-6 years later.Methods: Data were used from three prospective visits within the Healthy Aging in Neighborhoods of Diversity Across the Life Span (HANDLS) study with complete v1 (2004-2009) and v2 (2009-2013) exposures and ancillary sMRI data at vscan (2011-2015, n = 213, mean v1 to vscan time: 5.7 years). Multivariable-adjusted linear regression models were conducted, overall, by sex, by race, and within non-anemics, correcting for multiple testing with q-values.Results: In minimally adjusted models (socio-demographics and follow-up time), anemiav1 and RDWv1 were consistently associated with smaller bilateral hippocampal volumes overall, and among females (q < 0.05), without significant sex differences. RDWv1 was related to smaller select regional cortical brain gray and white matter volumes in hematological measure-adjusted models; anemiav1 was associated with larger WML volumes only among whites.Conclusion: In summary, baseline anemia and RDW were consistently associated with smaller bilateral hippocampal volumes, particularly among females, while anemia was linked to larger WML volume among Whites. In hematological measure-adjusted models, baseline RDW was linked to smaller regional gray and white matter volumes. Pending studies with sMRI repeats, randomized controlled trials are needed, demonstrating associations of anemia and elevated RDW with reduced brain volumes and cognitive dysfunction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]