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Cerebrospinal fluid markers of pathogenetic processes in vascular dementia, with special reference to the subcortical subtype
Wallin A, Blennow K, Rosengren L.. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders, 1999-10-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
There is a need for improvement of the diagnosis of vascular dementia (VaD). Today, the clinician has to rely on clinical examination, history, and, possibly, brain imaging to identify cerebrovascular damage and other signs of VaD. The clinical diagnosis of subcortical VaD may be difficult because the clinical manifestation of this disorder is often similar to that of Alzheimer disease. There are also mixed forms of the two disorders. Biochemical diagnostic markers, which reflect the pathogenetic processes in the brain, would add to the accuracy of the diagnosis. There are some interesting candidate markers: the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum albumin ratio could be used to identify blood-brain barrier damage to the small intracerebral vessels, CSF sulfatide to identify ongoing demyelination of the white matter, CSF neuron-specific enolase to identify ongoing neuronal degeneration, and CSF tau protein and CSF neurofilament light protein to identify ongoing axonal degeneration. None of these potential markers is specific to subcortical VaD, but together and used in conjunction with the conventional diagnostic workup, they may be of diagnostic value.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Wallin, A., Blennow, K., & Rosengren, L. (1999). Cerebrospinal fluid markers of pathogenetic processes in vascular dementia, with special reference to the subcortical subtype. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. https://doi.org/10.1097/00002093-199912001-00015
Vancouver
Wallin A, Blennow K, Rosengren L. Cerebrospinal fluid markers of pathogenetic processes in vascular dementia, with special reference to the subcortical subtype. Alzheimer disease and associated disorders. 1999. doi:10.1097/00002093-199912001-00015. PMID: 10609688.
BibTeX
@article{wallin1999-10609688,
author = {Wallin, A. and Blennow, K. and Rosengren, L.},
title = {{Cerebrospinal fluid markers of pathogenetic processes in vascular dementia, with special reference to the subcortical subtype}},
journal = {Alzheimer disease and associated disorders},
year = {1999},
doi = {10.1097/00002093-199912001-00015},
pmid = {10609688},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/00002093-199912001-00015}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- The clinical diagnosis of subcortical VaD may be difficult because the clinical manifestation of this disorder is often similar to that of Alzheimer disease.
- There are also mixed forms of the two disorders.
- Biochemical diagnostic markers, which reflect the pathogenetic processes in the brain, would add to the accuracy of the diagnosis.
- There are some interesting candidate markers: the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)/serum albumin ratio could be used to identify blood-brain barrier damage to the small intracerebral vessels, CSF sulfatide to identify ongoing demyelination of the white matter, CSF neuron-specific enolase to identify ongoing neuronal degeneration, and CSF tau protein and CSF neurofilament light protein to identify ongoing axonal degeneration.
- None of these potential markers is specific to subcortical VaD, but together and used in conjunction with the conventional diagnostic workup, they may be of diagnostic value.
Why it matters
This review discusses candidate cerebrospinal fluid markers that reflect blood-brain barrier damage, demyelination, neuronal degeneration and axonal degeneration in vascular dementia. It notes none of these markers is specific to subcortical vascular dementia, but together with standard workup they may aid diagnosis.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 33/100
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 (Alzheimer disease and associated disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer Disease & Associated Disorders: journal h-index 131 (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 | 1999 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 | 3 / 7 | Cited 36 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.2 citations a year over 29 year(s) since 1999 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.2× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Lars Rosengren: h-index 69 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Sahlgrenska University Hospital: institution h-index 715 (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 10609688) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 33 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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