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Associations Between CSF Markers of Inflammation, White Matter Lesions, and Cognitive Decline in Individuals Without Dementia
Gertje EC, Janelidze S, van Westen D, Cullen N, Stomrud E, Palmqvist S, Hansson O, Mattsson-Carlgren N.. Neurology, 2023-03-07
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Results A total of 495 cognitively unimpaired (CU) elderly individuals and 247 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were included. There was significant worsening in cognition over time, measured by Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating, and modified preclinical Alzheimer composite score in CU individuals and patients with MCI, with more rapid worsening in MCI for all cognitive tests. At baseline, higher levels of PlGF (β = 0.156, p p = 0.003), and higher levels of IL-8 (β = 0.07, p = 0.030) were associated with more WML in CU individuals. In those with MCI, higher levels of PlGF (β = 0.172, p = 0.001), IL-16 (β = 0.125, p = 0.001), IL-8 (β = 0.096, p = 0.013), IL-6 (β = 0.088, p = 0.023), VEGF-A (β = 0.068, p = 0.028), and VEGF-D (β = 0.082, p = 0.028) were associated with more WML. PlGF was the only biomarker that was associated with WML independent of Aβ status and cognitive impairment. Discussion Most neuroinflammatory CSF biomarkers were associated with WML in individuals without dementia. Our findings especially highlight a role for PlGF, which was associated with WML independent of Aβ status and cognitive impairment.
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APA 7th
Gertje, E. C., Janelidze, S., van Westen, D., Cullen, N., Stomrud, E., Palmqvist, S., et al. (2023). Associations Between CSF Markers of Inflammation, White Matter Lesions, and Cognitive Decline in Individuals Without Dementia. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000207113
Vancouver
Gertje EC, Janelidze S, van Westen D, Cullen N, Stomrud E, Palmqvist S, et al. Associations Between CSF Markers of Inflammation, White Matter Lesions, and Cognitive Decline in Individuals Without Dementia. Neurology. 2023. doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000207113. PMID: 36882326.
BibTeX
@article{gertje2023-36882326,
author = {Gertje, E. C. and Janelidze, S. and van Westen, D. and Cullen, N. and Stomrud, E. and Palmqvist, S. and Hansson, O. and Mattsson-Carlgren, N.},
title = {{Associations Between CSF Markers of Inflammation, White Matter Lesions, and Cognitive Decline in Individuals Without Dementia}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2023},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0000000000207113},
pmid = {36882326},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000207113}
}
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 8 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.
Key findings
- Results A total of 495 cognitively unimpaired (CU) elderly individuals and 247 patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) were included.
- There was significant worsening in cognition over time, measured by Mini-Mental State Examination, Clinical Dementia Rating, and modified preclinical Alzheimer composite score in CU individuals and patients with MCI, with more rapid worsening in MCI for all cognitive tests.
- At baseline, higher levels of PlGF (β = 0.156, p p = 0.003), and higher levels of IL-8 (β = 0.07, p = 0.030) were associated with more WML in CU individuals.
- In those with MCI, higher levels of PlGF (β = 0.172, p = 0.001), IL-16 (β = 0.125, p = 0.001), IL-8 (β = 0.096, p = 0.013), IL-6 (β = 0.088, p = 0.023), VEGF-A (β = 0.068, p = 0.028), and VEGF-D (β = 0.082, p = 0.028) were associated with more WML.
- PlGF was the only biomarker that was associated with WML independent of Aβ status and cognitive impairment.
Why it matters
In 495 cognitively unimpaired older adults and 247 people with mild cognitive impairment, higher levels of several inflammation-related proteins in spinal fluid went with more white matter lesions on brain scans. More markers were linked in the MCI group (PlGF, IL-16, IL-8, IL-6, VEGF-A, VEGF-D) than in the unimpaired group, where PlGF and IL-8 were reported. Only PlGF stayed linked to lesions regardless of amyloid status and cognitive impairment. These are associations, not causes, and the study tests no treatment.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants247
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 67/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over 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 | 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 | 3 / 5 | 2023 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 247 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 | 4 / 7 | Cited 63 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.6 citations a year over 5 year(s) since 2023 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 6 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 59 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Niklas Mattsson: h-index 109 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Lund University: institution h-index 1,119 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 36882326) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 67 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1212/wnl.0000000000207113
- PubMed: 36882326
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — PubMed Central lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 10 Oct 2026).
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