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A Systematic Review to Evaluate the Effect of Neflamapimod on Cognitive Function and Progression of Dementia
Tyagi S, Murali N, Singh SK, Babtiwale SR, Padhi BK, Lakshmi NRA, Gandhi AP.. Neurology India, 2026-01-09
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Abstract Treatment options for dementia mainly comprise of symptomatic treatment, as no disease-modifying therapy currently exists that directly reduces the pathology. This systematic review assessed the effectiveness of neflamapimod (VX-745), a p38α kinase inhibitor, as a therapeutic agent for treating dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Lewy Body Dementia (LBD). The systematic review evaluated the therapeutic effect of neflamapimod on dementia. Five electronic databases were included in the systematic review: PubMed, Embase, ProQuest, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, which were searched until May 5, 2024. Two independent reviewers conducted title and abstract screening, followed by full-text review and data extraction, with disagreements resolved by a third reviewer. The risk of bias in the included studies was assessed using the ROB 2.0 tool. PROSPERO Registration ID: CRD42024542377. The review identified clinical results, biomarker effects, and mechanistic insights from two key trials. Due to the inclusion of only two eligible studies with varying methodologies and outcome measures, a meta-analysis could not be performed. While the primary cognitive outcomes, such as "neuropsychological test battery (NTB)" and "Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R)" were not statistically different, episodic memory, executive function, attention, gait dysfunction, and motor issues showed improvements, especially in patients with elevated plasma tau181, a marker for AD pathology. Biomarker analysis also indicated a statistically significant reduction in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau and phosphorylated tau biomarkers, which are closely related to neuroinflammation and synaptic impairment in dementia. The findings of the current review suggested that while the cognitive effects of neflamapimod remain uncertain, its ability to influence disease-specific biomarkers makes it a potential drug to be used in dementia. This review connects biological and clinical outcomes, paving the way for future advancements in dementia treatment strategies.
Key findings
- The review identified clinical results, biomarker effects, and mechanistic insights from two key trials.
- Biomarker analysis also indicated a statistically significant reduction in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) tau and phosphorylated tau biomarkers, which are closely related to neuroinflammation and synaptic impairment in dementia.
- The findings of the current review suggested that while the cognitive effects of neflamapimod remain uncertain, its ability to influence disease-specific biomarkers makes it a potential drug to be used in dementia.
Why it matters
Only two eligible trials were found for this systematic review of neflamapimod (VX-745), a p38α kinase inhibitor, in Alzheimer's and Lewy body dementia. The main memory test scores did not differ from comparison groups, though some measures such as episodic memory and gait improved and spinal fluid tau markers fell significantly. The authors say its cognitive effects remain uncertain, but its effect on disease biomarkers makes it a possible candidate for further study.
Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 42 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 44 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurology India) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Neurology India: journal h-index 65 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 0 / 7 | Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 0 / 6 | Cited 0.0× 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 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Aravind P. Gandhi holds only 6 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research: institution h-index 351 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41510854) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 42 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 42 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 44 out of 100. |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.4103/neurol-india.neurol-india-d-25-00227
- PubMed: 41510854
- Original source →
- Free full text: Neurology India →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Tyagi, S., Murali, N., Singh, S. K., Babtiwale, SR., Padhi, B. K., Lakshmi, N. R. A., et al. (2026). A Systematic Review to Evaluate the Effect of Neflamapimod on Cognitive Function and Progression of Dementia. Neurology India. https://doi.org/10.4103/neurol-india.neurol-india-d-25-00227
Vancouver
Tyagi S, Murali N, Singh SK, Babtiwale SR, Padhi BK, Lakshmi NRA, et al. A Systematic Review to Evaluate the Effect of Neflamapimod on Cognitive Function and Progression of Dementia. Neurology India. 2026. doi:10.4103/neurol-india.neurol-india-d-25-00227. PMID: 41510854.
BibTeX
@article{tyagi2026-41510854,
author = {Tyagi, S. and Murali, N. and Singh, S. K. and Babtiwale, SR. and Padhi, B. K. and Lakshmi, N. R. A. and Gandhi, A. P.},
title = {{A Systematic Review to Evaluate the Effect of Neflamapimod on Cognitive Function and Progression of Dementia}},
journal = {Neurology India},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.4103/neurol-india.neurol-india-d-25-00227},
pmid = {41510854},
url = {https://doi.org/10.4103/neurol-india.neurol-india-d-25-00227}
}
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