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A bibliometric analysis of the immune system and cognitive impairment: trends from 1985 to 2024
Zou B, Xiang J, Zhang M, Huang J, Feng C.. Frontiers in aging neuroscience, 2025-07-28
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Cognitive impairment is closely linked to immune system dysfunction, with increasing research interest in the underlying mechanisms and potential therapeutic targets. Bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive approach to understanding research trends, influential contributions, and emerging topics in this interdisciplinary field. Methods This study conducted a bibliometric analysis of publications related to the immune system and cognitive impairment from 1985 to 2024, retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. CiteSpace (6.4. R1), VOSviewer (1.6.20), and R-bibliometrix (R 4.3.0) were employed to analyze publication trends, co-authorship networks, keyword clustering, and co-citation patterns. Key metrics, including the H-index, G-index, and M-index, were computed to assess academic influence. Results A total of 3,737 publications were analyzed, revealing a significant increase in research output since 2021. The United States and China emerged as leading contributors, with a robust presence of collaborative networks. Keyword and co-citation analysis identified core research themes, including neuroinflammation, microglia activation, gut microbiota, TREM2-mediated immune responses, and inflammasomes. Emerging topics such as the gut-brain axis, metabolic syndromes, and immune regulation in neurodegenerative diseases have gained prominence in recent years. Highly cited papers highlighted the role of immune dysregulation in Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, and HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders. Conclusion This bibliometric analysis provides a comprehensive overview of research trends in immune-related cognitive impairment. The findings indicate an increasing focus on neuroinflammatory mechanisms, immune cell interactions, and novel immunotherapeutic strategies. Future research is expected to further explore the gut-immune-brain axis and precision medicine approaches in managing cognitive disorders. These findings may facilitate early detection strategies and novel interventions targeting immune-cognitive interactions, such as gut-brain axis modulation.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Zou, B., Xiang, J., Zhang, M., Huang, J., & Feng, C. (2025). A bibliometric analysis of the immune system and cognitive impairment: trends from 1985 to 2024. Frontiers in aging neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1587575
Vancouver
Zou B, Xiang J, Zhang M, Huang J, Feng C. A bibliometric analysis of the immune system and cognitive impairment: trends from 1985 to 2024. Frontiers in aging neuroscience. 2025. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2025.1587575. PMID: 40791247.
BibTeX
@article{zou2025-40791247,
author = {Zou, B. and Xiang, J. and Zhang, M. and Huang, J. and Feng, C.},
title = {{A bibliometric analysis of the immune system and cognitive impairment: trends from 1985 to 2024}},
journal = {Frontiers in aging neuroscience},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3389/fnagi.2025.1587575},
pmid = {40791247},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2025.1587575}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results A total of 3,737 publications were analyzed, revealing a significant increase in research output since 2021.
- These findings may facilitate early detection strategies and novel interventions targeting immune-cognitive interactions, such as gut-brain axis modulation.
Why it matters
Analysing 3,737 publications from 1985 to 2024, this bibliometric study mapped research on the immune system and cognitive impairment, finding output has risen sharply since 2021, led by the United States and China. Major themes included neuroinflammation, microglia, gut microbiota, TREM2 and inflammasomes, with the gut-brain axis an emerging topic. It describes research trends rather than new findings about treating Alzheimer's.
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Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Participants3,737
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 50 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 52 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in aging neuroscience) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience: journal h-index 174 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 3,737 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Chao Feng holds only 5 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Zhejiang University: institution h-index 1,040 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40791247) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 50 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 50 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 52 out of 100. |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2025.1587575
- PubMed: 40791247
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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