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49/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 49 out of 100. Long-term cohort studies

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Background Increasing evidence suggests a role of atherosclerosis in the pathogenesis of cognitive impairment and dementia. Calcification volume measured with computed tomography (CT) is a valid marker of atherosclerosis. This study investigates associations of atherosclerosis (measured using CT) at four locations with cognition and brain changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Bos, D., Vernooij, M. W., Elias-Smale, S. E., Verhaaren, B. F., Vrooman, H. A., Hofman, A., et al. (2012). Atherosclerotic calcification relates to cognitive function and to brain changes on magnetic resonance imaging. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2012.01.008

Vancouver

Bos D, Vernooij MW, Elias-Smale SE, Verhaaren BF, Vrooman HA, Hofman A, et al. Atherosclerotic calcification relates to cognitive function and to brain changes on magnetic resonance imaging. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 2012. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2012.01.008. PMID: 22537801.

BibTeX

@article{bos2012-22537801,
  author  = {Bos, D. and Vernooij, M. W. and Elias-Smale, S. E. and Verhaaren, B. F. and Vrooman, H. A. and Hofman, A. and Niessen, W. J. and Witteman, J. C. and others},
  title   = {{Atherosclerotic calcification relates to cognitive function and to brain changes on magnetic resonance imaging}},
  journal = {Alzheimer's \& dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association},
  year    = {2012},
  doi     = {10.1016/j.jalz.2012.01.008},
  pmid    = {22537801},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2012.01.008}
}

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Key findings

Calcification volume measured with computed tomography (CT) is a valid marker of atherosclerosis.
This study investigates associations of atherosclerosis (measured using CT) at four locations with cognition and brain changes on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).
Methods To quantify calcification volume, 2414 nondemented people from the Rotterdam Study underwent CT of the coronary arteries, aortic arch, extracranial carotid arteries, and intracranial carotid arteries.
To assess global cognition and performance on memory, executive function, information processing speed, and motor speed, they also underwent neuropsychological tests.

Why it matters

This study investigated whether atherosclerotic calcification at four locations is associated with cognition and brain changes on MRI in non-demented people. It reports associations with vascular measures and brain imaging, so it does not establish a treatment, cure or prevention.

Study details

Participants844
Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 49/100

Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.

Component	Points	Why
Journal tier	9 / 10	Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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	1 / 5	2012 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	2 / 4	844 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)
Randomised / blinded	0 / 2	No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0)
Times cited	5 / 7	Cited 113 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	2 / 5	7.1 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012
Impact for its field and year	3 / 6	Cited 5.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	2 / 6	Cited by 4 other studies in this library
Still being cited	2 / 4	Cited 28 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	4 / 4	Last-listed author M. Arfan Ikram: h-index 167 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	Erasmus MC: institution h-index 1,321 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre 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 22537801)
Free to read	0 / 2	Behind a paywall — scores zero
Total	49 / 100	—

What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →

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