Sex differences in the association between repetitive negative thinking and neurofilament light
Year: 2024
Type: article
Abstract: Emerging evidence suggests that repetitive negative thinking (RNT; i.e., worry and ruminative brooding) is associated with biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease. Given that women have a greater risk of many neurodegenerative diseases, this study investigated whether worry and brooding are associated with general neurodegeneration and whether associations differ by sex. Exploratory analyses examined whether allostatic load, a marker of chronic stress, mediates any observed relationships. Baseline data from 134 cognitively healthy older adults in the Age-Well clinical trial were utilised. Worry and brooding were assessed using questionnaires. Plasma neurofilament light chain (NfL), a biomarker of neurodegeneration, was quantified using a Meso Scale Discovery assay. We found a positive interaction between brooding and sex on NfL, with higher brooding associated with greater NfL levels in women. No associations were observed between worry/ruminative brooding and allostatic load. These results offer preliminary support that RNT is associated with worse brain health, specifically in women.
Source: npj Mental Health Research
Authors: Yolanda Lau, Amit Bansal, Cassandre Palix, Harriet Demnitz-King, Miranka Wirth, Olga Klimecki, Gael Chetelat, Géraldine Poisnel, Natalie L. Marchant, Anne Chocat, Fabienne Collette, Vincent De La Sayette, Marion Delarue, Hélène Espérou, Eglantine Ferrand Devouge, Eric Frison, Julie Gonneaud, Frank Jessen, Perla Kaliman, Elizabeth Kuhn, Valérie Lefranc, Antoine Lutz, Valentin Ourry, Anne Quillard, Eric Salmon, Delphine Smagghe, Rhonda Smith, Marco Schlosser, Edelweiss Touron, Cédric Wallet, Tim Whitfield
Institutions: University College London, Inserm, Cyceron, Physiopathologie et imagerie des troubles neurologiques, Université de Caen Normandie, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) Dresden, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, University of Liège, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Caen Normandie, Normandie Université, Université de Rouen Normandie, Université de Bordeaux, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Institut Bergonié, Centre d'Investigation Clinique Plurithématique de Bordeaux, University of Cologne, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, École Pratique des Hautes Études, Inserm Transfert, University of Geneva
Language: English
Subfield: Psychiatry and Mental health
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $1,340
Funders: Alzheimer's Society, European Commission
OpenAlex ID: W4404230067