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Alzheimer's Disease Is a Synaptic Failure
Dennis J. Selkoe. Science, 2002-10-24
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
In its earliest clinical phase, Alzheimer's disease characteristically produces a remarkably pure impairment of memory. Mounting evidence suggests that this syndrome begins with subtle alterations of hippocampal synaptic efficacy prior to frank neuronal degeneration, and that the synaptic dysfunction is caused by diffusible oligomeric assemblies of the amyloid beta protein.
Why it matters
This article argues that the earliest clinical phase of Alzheimer's disease mainly affects memory, and that this may begin with subtle changes in how synapses in the hippocampus work, before nerve cells are lost. It suggests the synaptic problems are caused by small, diffusible clumps (oligomers) of amyloid beta protein.
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a top-tier journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on strength of evidence, so that was left out: it earned 57 of the 95 points we could judge it on, which is 60 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 10 / 10 | Tier 1 — top-tier general journal (Science) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Science: journal h-index 1,754 (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 | — / 5 | No evidence rating recorded — left out of this score |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2002 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 7 / 7 | Cited 4,432 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 170.5 citations a year over 26 year(s) since 2002 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 50.2× 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 | 4 / 4 | Cited 480 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Dennis J. Selkoe: h-index 174 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12399581) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 57 / 95 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 57 of the 95 points we could judge it on is 60 out of 100. |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Selkoe, D. J. (2002). Alzheimer's Disease Is a Synaptic Failure. Science. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1074069
Vancouver
Selkoe DJ. Alzheimer's Disease Is a Synaptic Failure. Science. 2002. doi:10.1126/science.1074069. PMID: 12399581.
BibTeX
@article{selkoe2002-12399581,
author = {Selkoe, Dennis J.},
title = {{Alzheimer's Disease Is a Synaptic Failure}},
journal = {Science},
year = {2002},
doi = {10.1126/science.1074069},
pmid = {12399581},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1074069}
}
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