Correlation between blood biomarkers and patient-reported outcomes (PROs) of depression and mental health scores in individuals with multiple sclerosis (iwMS).

Cross-sectional analysis showed a significant correlation between sNfL and CES-D depression scores in individuals with MS.

• Linear regression was used to estimate the association between PRO measures as the outcome and log-transformed biomarkers as the predictor.
• The association between sNfL and CES-D was statistically significant (p = 0.035).
• This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for sex, age, EDSS, and MS treatment.
• Participants completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale (CESD) at the time of blood draw.

Cross-sectional analysis showed a significant correlation between sNfL and MSQOL-54 Mental Health Composite scores in individuals with MS.

• The association between sNfL and MSQOL-54 Mental Health Composite (MHC) was statistically significant (p = 0.003).
• This association remained statistically significant after adjusting for sex, age, EDSS, and MS treatment.
• Participants completed the MS Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) at the time of blood draw.
• The p-value for the MHC association (0.003) was stronger than for the CES-D association (0.035).

Neither cross-sectional nor longitudinal analysis of sGFAP levels showed significant correlation with PRO scores.

• sGFAP was evaluated as a predictor of both CES-D and MSQOL-54 Mental Health Composite scores.
• Cross-sectional linear regression did not reveal significant associations between sGFAP and either PRO measure.
• Longitudinal analysis using linear mixed-effect models to estimate the association between baseline sGFAP and longitudinal change in PROs also showed no significant correlation.
• The contrast with sNfL findings suggests differential roles for these two biomarkers in relation to symptomatic phenotypes such as depression and mental health outcomes.

The study investigated serum neurofilament light chain and glial fibrillary acidic protein as biomarkers in relation to symptomatic phenotypes including depression and mental health in MS.

• sNfL and sGFAP are described as 'promising biomarkers for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) disease activity.'
• The study notes 'there is less known about their association with the symptomatic phenotypes such as depression and mental health outcomes.'
• Both cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses were conducted; cross-sectional used linear regression and longitudinal used linear mixed-effect models.
• Covariates included sex, age, EDSS, and MS treatment in adjusted models.