Neurofilament Light Chain and Cognitive Dysfunction in Patients Undergoing Hemodialysis: A Cross-Sectional Exploratory Study
Kidney360. 2026 Feb 20. doi: 10.34067/KID.0000001162. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Cognitive dysfunction is frequently observed in patients undergoing hemodialysis in clinical settings; however, its pathophysiology remains uncertain. In recent years, noninvasive blood biomarkers have garnered increasing attention in predicting Alzheimer’s disease development. Within the general population, neurofilament light chain levels have been used to prognosticate changes in cognitive function alongside the amyloid beta 1-42/1-40 (Aβ1-42/1-40) ratio. Nevertheless, this has not been studied in patients with chronic kidney disease, particularly those undergoing hemodialysis.
METHODS: This exploratory cross-sectional study investigated the association of the serum Aβ1-42/1-40 ratio and neurofilament light chain levels with cognitive function, assessed using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) and Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
RESULTS: We included 384 patients with a median age of 74 (interquartile range [IQR]: 70-80) years. The median (IQR) MoCA and MMSE scores were 25 (22-26) and 28 (26-29), respectively. The median (IQR) Aβ1-42/1-40 ratio and neurofilament light chain level were 0.04 (0.03-0.06) and 196.2 pg/mL (146.5-262.2), respectively. The multivariate linear regression analysis indicated a weak negative association between the log-transformed neurofilament light chain levels and cognitive function, after adjusting for confounding factors including age (β coefficient [95 % confidence interval], -0.98 [-1.81, -0.15]; P = 0.021 for MoCA and -0.66 [-1.32, -0.01]; P = 0.046 for MMSE). However, the Aβ1-42/1-40 ratio was not associated with cognitive function.
CONCLUSIONS: Our exploratory analysis identified a weak negative association between serum neurofilament light chain levels and cognitive function in patients undergoing hemodialysis.
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