Presynaptic loss and axonal degeneration synergistically correlate with longitudinal neurodegeneration and cognitive...

Baseline and longitudinal characteristics of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) and plasma neurofilament light (NfL) and how they correlate interactively with neurodegeneration and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are not fully understood.

We investigated dynamic changes of CSF GAP-43 and plasma NfL across different AD stages and their association with longitudinal neurodegeneration and cognitive decline up to 12 years.

Individuals with hippocampal atrophy, AD-signature cortical thinning, or hypometabolism (N+) had faster plasma NfL increase rates than healthy individuals, regardless of amyloid/tau status. In contrast, none of these N+ imaging indicators correlated with more rapid increases in CSF GAP-43. Furthermore, CSF GAP-43 and plasma NfL synergistically predicted subsequent gray matter atrophy, cortical thinning, hypometabolism of the middle temporal region, and cognition.

CSF GAP-43-associated presynaptic loss indicates tau-dependent early neurodegeneration, whereas the axonal degeneration indicated by plasma NfL is a relatively late atrophy/hypometabolism-associated fluid neurodegeneration biomarker.

Plasma neurofilament light (NfL) was increased in N+ or cognitively impaired individuals. Increases in tau-dependent cerebrospinal fluid CSF growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43) before imaging neurodegeneration indicators. CSF GAP-43 and plasma NfL are synergistically related to longitudinal neurodegeneration. CSF GAP-43 and plasma NfL are synergistically related to longitudinal cognitive decline.