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Cerebrospinal fluid markers for synaptic function and Alzheimer type changes in late life depression
Siafarikas N, Kirsebom BE, Srivastava DP, Eriksson CM, Auning E, Hessen E, Selbaek G, Blennow K et al.. Scientific reports, 2021-10-13
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
To explore markers for synaptic function and Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology in late life depression (LLD), predementia AD and normal controls (NC). A cross-sectional study to compare cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of neurogranin (Ng), Beta-site amyloid-precursor-protein cleaving enzyme1 (BACE1), Ng/BACE1 ratio and Amyloid-β 42/40 ratio, phosphorylated-tau and total-tau in LLD with (LLD AD) or without (LLD NoAD) AD pathology, predementia AD and normal controls (NC). We included 145 participants (NC = 41; predementia AD = 66 and LLD = 38).
Key findings
- A cross-sectional study to compare cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of neurogranin (Ng), Beta-site amyloid-precursor-protein cleaving enzyme1 (BACE1), Ng/BACE1 ratio and Amyloid-β 42/40 ratio, phosphorylated-tau and total-tau in LLD with (LLD AD) or without (LLD NoAD) AD pathology, predementia AD and normal controls (NC).
- We included 145 participants (NC = 41; predementia AD = 66 and LLD = 38).
- LLD comprised LLD AD (n = 16), LLD NoAD (n = 19), LLD with non-AD typical changes (n = 3, excluded).
- All groups had significantly lower Aβ 42/40 ratio than NC (predementia AD and LLD AD, p < 0.0001; LLD NoAD, p < 0.05).
Why it matters
This cross-sectional study compared cerebrospinal fluid markers of synaptic function and Alzheimer-type changes among people with late life depression, predementia Alzheimer disease and normal controls. It examines marker patterns only and provides no evidence about treating, curing or preventing the disease.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants16
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 53/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Scientific reports) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Scientific Reports: journal h-index 463 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in time |
| 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 | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 16 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 | 3 / 7 | Cited 36 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 5.1 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 29 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Tormod Fladby: h-index 51 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | King's College London: institution h-index 1,348 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 9 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 34645914) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 53 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-99794-9
- PubMed: 34645914
- Original source →
- Free full text: Scientific Reports →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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.
APA 7th
Siafarikas, N., Kirsebom, B. E., Srivastava, D. P., Eriksson, C. M., Auning, E., Hessen, E., et al. (2021). Cerebrospinal fluid markers for synaptic function and Alzheimer type changes in late life depression. Scientific reports. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99794-9
Vancouver
Siafarikas N, Kirsebom BE, Srivastava DP, Eriksson CM, Auning E, Hessen E, et al. Cerebrospinal fluid markers for synaptic function and Alzheimer type changes in late life depression. Scientific reports. 2021. doi:10.1038/s41598-021-99794-9. PMID: 34645914.
BibTeX
@article{siafarikas2021-34645914,
author = {Siafarikas, N. and Kirsebom, B. E. and Srivastava, D. P. and Eriksson, C. M. and Auning, E. and Hessen, E. and Selbaek, G. and Blennow, K. and others},
title = {{Cerebrospinal fluid markers for synaptic function and Alzheimer type changes in late life depression}},
journal = {Scientific reports},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1038/s41598-021-99794-9},
pmid = {34645914},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-99794-9}
}
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