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Brain excitability and connectivity of neuronal assemblies in Alzheimer's disease: from animal models to human findings
D'Amelio M, Rossini PM.. Progress in neurobiology, 2012-07-10
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
The human brain contains about 100 billion neurons forming an intricate network of innumerable connections, which continuously adapt and rewire themselves following inputs from external and internal environments as well as the physiological synaptic, dendritic and axonal sculpture during brain maturation and throughout the life span. Growing evidence supports the idea that Alzheimer's disease (AD) targets selected and functionally connected neuronal networks and, specifically, their synaptic terminals, affecting brain connectivity well before producing neuronal loss and compartmental atrophy. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the dismantling of neuronal circuits and the implementation of 'clinically oriented' methods to map-out the dynamic interactions amongst neuronal assemblies will enhance early/pre-symptomatic diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. More important, this will open the avenues to innovative treatments, bridging the gap between molecular mechanisms and the variety of symptoms forming disease phenotype. In the present review a set of evidence supports the idea that altered brain connectivity, exhausted neural plasticity and aberrant neuronal activity are facets of the same coin linked to age-related neurodegenerative dementia of Alzheimer type. Investigating their respective roles in AD pathophysiology will help in translating findings from basic research to clinical applications.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
D'Amelio, M., & Rossini, P. M. (2012). Brain excitability and connectivity of neuronal assemblies in Alzheimer's disease: from animal models to human findings. Progress in neurobiology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.07.001
Vancouver
D'Amelio M, Rossini PM. Brain excitability and connectivity of neuronal assemblies in Alzheimer's disease: from animal models to human findings. Progress in neurobiology. 2012. doi:10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.07.001. PMID: 22789698.
BibTeX
@article{damelio2012-22789698,
author = {D'Amelio, M. and Rossini, P. M.},
title = {{Brain excitability and connectivity of neuronal assemblies in Alzheimer's disease: from animal models to human findings}},
journal = {Progress in neurobiology},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.07.001},
pmid = {22789698},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pneurobio.2012.07.001}
}
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Key findings
- Growing evidence supports the idea that Alzheimer's disease (AD) targets selected and functionally connected neuronal networks and, specifically, their synaptic terminals, affecting brain connectivity well before producing neuronal loss and compartmental atrophy.
- The understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the dismantling of neuronal circuits and the implementation of 'clinically oriented' methods to map-out the dynamic interactions amongst neuronal assemblies will enhance early/pre-symptomatic diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression.
- More important, this will open the avenues to innovative treatments, bridging the gap between molecular mechanisms and the variety of symptoms forming disease phenotype.
- In the present review a set of evidence supports the idea that altered brain connectivity, exhausted neural plasticity and aberrant neuronal activity are facets of the same coin linked to age-related neurodegenerative dementia of Alzheimer type.
- Investigating their respective roles in AD pathophysiology will help in translating findings from basic research to clinical applications.
Why it matters
This review argues that Alzheimer's disease targets functionally connected neuronal networks and their synaptic terminals, affecting brain connectivity before neuronal loss and atrophy. It suggests that mapping these dynamic interactions could aid early diagnosis and monitoring and open avenues to innovative treatments, but it presents no trial results.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, 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 (Progress in neurobiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Progress in Neurobiology: journal h-index 325 (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 | 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 146 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.1 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 6.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 14 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Paolo Maria Rossini: h-index 121 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Agostino Gemelli University Polyclinic: institution h-index 475 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22789698) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
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