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42/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 42 out of 100. Genetics

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Higher total meat consumption (red meat: 51%, poultry: 20%, processed meat: 29%), was associated with a better cognitive trajectory only in the APOE34/44 stratum (β per 1 z-unit increase: 0.011; CI: 0.004 to 0.018 versus -0.003; CI: -0.008 to 0.003; P for interaction = 0.002). The association was primarily driven by episodic memory (β =0.020; CI:0.007 to 0.033). In all other sub-domains (i.e., semantic memory, verbal fluency, perceptual speed), associations were weaker but in the same direction. Associations with global cognition were consistent when comparing the highest (median: 783 g/week) versus lowest (240 g/week) quintile of total meat consumption (β=0.034; CI: 0.009 to 0.060) (Figure 2). The strongest association in the highest quintile was also with the episodic memory domain (β=0.053; CI: 0.012 to 0.097). Among older APOE 𝜀34 and 𝜀44 genotypes, lower meat consumption was associated with faster cognitive decline, while higher meat consumption resulted in similar cognitive change trajectories as those of APOE 𝜀22/23/24/33 genotypes. Our results support the hypothesis that the ancestral gene variant-APOE4-provides adaptation to meat consumption, at least from the perspective of cognitive health. Further studies on broader health outcomes and dementia conversion are warranted.

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APA 7th

Norgren, J., Carballo‐Casla, A., Börjesson‐Hanson, A., Eriksdotter, M., Laukka, E. J., & Ptacek, S. G. (2025). APOE‐Genotype Modifies the Association of Meat Consumption with Cognitive Decline: Longitudinal Analyses of The Swedish National Study on Aging and Care, SNAC‐K. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70860_107412

Vancouver

Norgren J, Carballo‐Casla A, Börjesson‐Hanson A, Eriksdotter M, Laukka EJ, Ptacek SG. APOE‐Genotype Modifies the Association of Meat Consumption with Cognitive Decline: Longitudinal Analyses of The Swedish National Study on Aging and Care, SNAC‐K. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz70860_107412. PMID: 41434470.

BibTeX

@article{norgren2025-41434470,
  author  = {Norgren, Jakob and Carballo‐Casla, Adrián and Börjesson‐Hanson, Anne and Eriksdotter, Maria and Laukka, Erika J and Ptacek, Sara Garcia},
  title   = {{APOE‐Genotype Modifies the Association of Meat Consumption with Cognitive Decline: Longitudinal Analyses of The Swedish National Study on Aging and Care, SNAC‐K}},
  journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1002/alz70860_107412},
  pmid    = {41434470},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70860_107412}
}

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Key findings

Higher total meat consumption (red meat: 51%, poultry: 20%, processed meat: 29%), was associated with a better cognitive trajectory only in the APOE34/44 stratum (β per 1 z-unit increase: 0.011; CI: 0.004 to 0.018 versus -0.003; CI: -0.008 to 0.003; P for interaction = 0.002).
The association was primarily driven by episodic memory (β =0.020; CI:0.007 to 0.033).
In all other sub-domains (i.e., semantic memory, verbal fluency, perceptual speed), associations were weaker but in the same direction.
Associations with global cognition were consistent when comparing the highest (median: 783 g/week) versus lowest (240 g/week) quintile of total meat consumption (β=0.034; CI: 0.009 to 0.060) (Figure 2).
The strongest association in the highest quintile was also with the episodic memory domain (β=0.053; CI: 0.012 to 0.097).

Why it matters

In a Swedish longitudinal study, higher total meat consumption was associated with a better cognitive trajectory only in people with APOE ε34 or ε44 genotypes, mainly in episodic memory. This is an observational association and does not show that eating more meat prevents or treats Alzheimer's disease.

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Study details

Study designlongitudinal study
Evidence strengthModerate

How this study scored 42/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	7 / 10	Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	7 / 12	A longitudinal study following the same people over time
Strength of evidence	3 / 5	Rated “moderate” 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	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	0 / 7	Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	0 / 5	0.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
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	2 / 4	Last-listed author Sara Garcia Ptacek: h-index 39 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	Karolinska Institutet: institution h-index 1,477 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	2 / 3	OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41434470)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	42 / 100	—

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Read the original

Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).

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