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Associations Between Cardiovascular Risk Factors and Neurofilament Light Levels Among US Mexican American Adults
1Department of Neurology, Chapel Hill School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Brain and Behavior
|March 13, 2026
Summary
Neurofilament light (NfL) levels, a neuronal injury biomarker, show distinct associations with cardiovascular health and brain vascular injury in Mexican American (MA) adults compared to non-Latino Whites (NLW). These findings highlight NfL
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Investigates neurofilament light (NfL) levels, a marker of neuronal injury.
- Examines the link between NfL, cardiovascular health, and vascular injury.
- Compares US Mexican American (MA) and non-Latino White (NLW) adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between NfL levels and cardiovascular/vascular health.
- To identify potential disparities in these associations among ethnic groups.
- To assess NfL as a biomarker for neurodegeneration and cardiovascular disease (CVD).
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 1317 participants in the Health and Aging Brain Study: Health Disparities (HABS-HD).
- Inclusion of phenotypic, neuroimaging, and plasma NfL data.
- Assessment of cardiovascular factors (hypertension, diabetes, CVD) and white matter hyperintensities (WMH).
Main Results:
- NfL levels varied between MA and NLW participants, particularly concerning diabetes and CVD diagnoses, with greater differences observed in the MA group.
- A steeper association between white matter hyperintensities (WMH) volume and NfL was found in the MA group.
- These results suggest ethnic-specific differences in NfL's relationship with cardiovascular and cerebrovascular health.
Conclusions:
- Neurofilament light (NfL) shows potential as a prognostic biomarker for cardiovascular disease (CVD) and neurodegeneration.
- Findings are particularly relevant for Mexican American (MA) adults, indicating potential brain aging disparities.
- Further research is crucial for understanding these associations and developing targeted prevention strategies.
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