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Advances in Deep Neuropathological Phenotyping of Alzheimer Disease: Past, Present, and Future
Shakir MN, Dugger BN.. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology, 2022-01-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Plain-language summary
Alzheimer disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized pathologically by the presence of neurofibrillary tangles and amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques in the brain. The disease was first described in 1906 by Alois Alzheimer, and since then, there have been many advancements in technologies that have aided in unlocking the secrets of this devastating disease. Such advancements include improving microscopy and staining techniques, refining diagnostic criteria for the disease, and increased appreciation for disease heterogeneity both in neuroanatomic location of abnormalities as well as overlap with other brain diseases; for example, Lewy body disease and vascular dementia. Despite numerous advancements, there is still much to achieve as there is not a cure for AD and postmortem histological analyses is still the gold standard for appreciating AD neuropathologic changes. Recent technological advances such as in-vivo biomarkers and machine learning algorithms permit great strides in disease understanding, and pave the way for potential new therapies and precision medicine approaches. Here, we review the history of human AD neuropathology research to include the notable advancements in understanding common co-pathologies in the setting of AD, and microscopy and staining methods. We also discuss future approaches with a specific focus on deep phenotyping using machine learning.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
This review covers the history of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology research, including microscopy, staining, diagnostic criteria, and co-pathologies, and notes there is still no cure. It discusses future phenotyping approaches and does not report any treatment, cure, or prevention.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Shakir, M. N., & Dugger, B. N. (2022). Advances in Deep Neuropathological Phenotyping of Alzheimer Disease: Past, Present, and Future. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology. https://doi.org/10.1093/jnen/nlab122
Vancouver
Shakir MN, Dugger BN. Advances in Deep Neuropathological Phenotyping of Alzheimer Disease: Past, Present, and Future. Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology. 2022. doi:10.1093/jnen/nlab122. PMID: 34981115.
BibTeX
@article{shakir2022-34981115,
author = {Shakir, M. N. and Dugger, B. N.},
title = {{Advances in Deep Neuropathological Phenotyping of Alzheimer Disease: Past, Present, and Future}},
journal = {Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1093/jnen/nlab122},
pmid = {34981115},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/jnen/nlab122}
}
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
- Such advancements include improving microscopy and staining techniques, refining diagnostic criteria for the disease, and increased appreciation for disease heterogeneity both in neuroanatomic location of abnormalities as well as overlap with other brain diseases; for example, Lewy body disease and vascular dementia.
- Despite numerous advancements, there is still much to achieve as there is not a cure for AD and postmortem histological analyses is still the gold standard for appreciating AD neuropathologic changes.
- Recent technological advances such as in-vivo biomarkers and machine learning algorithms permit great strides in disease understanding, and pave the way for potential new therapies and precision medicine approaches.
- Here, we review the history of human AD neuropathology research to include the notable advancements in understanding common co-pathologies in the setting of AD, and microscopy and staining methods.
- We also discuss future approaches with a specific focus on deep phenotyping using machine learning.
Why it matters
This review covers the history of Alzheimer's disease neuropathology research, including microscopy, staining, diagnostic criteria, and co-pathologies, and notes there is still no cure. It discusses future phenotyping approaches and does not report any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neuropathology and experimental neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology: journal h-index 239 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 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) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 57 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.5 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 32 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Brittany N. Dugger: h-index 48 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of California, Davis: institution h-index 1,257 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 34981115) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlab122
- PubMed: 34981115
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Neuropathology & Experimental Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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