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Updated: Jan 26, 2026

Dynamic Digital Biomarkers of Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: July 24, 2019
Differential effects of neurodegeneration biomarkers on subclinical cognitive decline
Andrew P Merluzzi1, Nicholas M Vogt1, Derek Norton2
1Wisconsin Alzheimer's Disease Research Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
Introduction:
Neurodegeneration appears to be the biological mechanism most proximate to cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. We test whether t-tau and alternative biomarkers of neurodegeneration-neurogranin and neurofilament light protein (NFL)-add value in predicting subclinical cognitive decline.
Methods:
One hundred fifty cognitively unimpaired participants received a lumbar puncture for cerebrospinal fluid and at least two neuropsychological examinations (mean age at first visit = 59.3 ± 6.3 years; 67% female). Linear mixed effects models were used with cognitive composite scores as outcomes. Neurodegeneration interactions terms were the primary predictors of interest: age × NFL or age × neurogranin or age × t-tau. Models were compared using likelihood ratio tests.
Results:
Age × NFL accounted for a significant amount of variation in longitudinal change on preclinical Alzheimer's cognitive composite scores, memory composite scores, and learning scores, whereas age × neurogranin and age × t-tau did not.
Discussion:
These data suggest that NFL may be more sensitive to subclinical cognitive decline compared to other proposed biomarkers for neurodegeneration.
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