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Association Between Longitudinal Rate of Change in CSF Biomarkers and Subsequent Tau PET Burden in Early Braak Stages
Rani N, Moghekar A, Callow DD, Alm KH, Pettigrew C, Soldan A, Miller M, Wang J et al.. Neurology, 2026-01-28
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Plain-language summary
Background and objectives Changes in CSF and tau PET biomarkers of Alzheimer disease (AD) emerge years before clinical symptoms are observed. However, few studies have examined the temporal relationship between these measures. This study investigated whether longitudinal changes in CSF AD biomarkers were associated with 18 F-MK6240 tau PET measures in early Braak stage subregions.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Moderate
This is a cross-sectional study of 78 participants. This retrospective analysis of cognitively unimpaired participants examined whether longitudinal changes in CSF Alzheimer biomarkers were associated with tau PET measures in early Braak stage subregions. It addresses the temporal relationship between biomarkers, not any treatment or cure.
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
Rani, N., Moghekar, A., Callow, D. D., Alm, K. H., Pettigrew, C., Soldan, A., et al. (2026). Association Between Longitudinal Rate of Change in CSF Biomarkers and Subsequent Tau PET Burden in Early Braak Stages. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000214620
Vancouver
Rani N, Moghekar A, Callow DD, Alm KH, Pettigrew C, Soldan A, et al. Association Between Longitudinal Rate of Change in CSF Biomarkers and Subsequent Tau PET Burden in Early Braak Stages. Neurology. 2026. doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000214620. PMID: 41604611.
BibTeX
@article{rani2026-41604611,
author = {Rani, N. and Moghekar, A. and Callow, D. D. and Alm, K. H. and Pettigrew, C. and Soldan, A. and Miller, M. and Wang, J. and others},
title = {{Association Between Longitudinal Rate of Change in CSF Biomarkers and Subsequent Tau PET Burden in Early Braak Stages}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0000000000214620},
pmid = {41604611},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000214620}
}
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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- However, few studies have examined the temporal relationship between these measures.
- This study investigated whether longitudinal changes in CSF AD biomarkers were associated with 18 F-MK6240 tau PET measures in early Braak stage subregions.
- Methods This study involved a retrospective analysis of cognitively unimpaired participants from the longitudinal observational Biomarkers of Cognitive Decline Among Normal Individuals cohort (NIH and Johns Hopkins University).
- Phosphorylated tau (p-tau) 181, total tau (t-tau), and β-amyloid (Aβ) 42 /Aβ 40 ) measures were obtained from CSF collected biennially over a mean of 12.8 years before tau PET acquisition.
Why it matters
This retrospective analysis of cognitively unimpaired participants examined whether longitudinal changes in CSF Alzheimer biomarkers were associated with tau PET measures in early Braak stage subregions. It addresses the temporal relationship between biomarkers, not any treatment or cure.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants78
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in 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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 78 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) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.7× 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 | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Arnold Bakker: h-index 26 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41604611) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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