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Changes in cognition
Albert MS.. Neurobiology of aging, 2011-12-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The clinical hallmark of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a gradual decline in cognitive function. For the majority of patients the initial symptom is an impairment in episodic memory, i.e., the ability to learn and retain new information. This is followed by impairments in other cognitive domains (e.g., executive function, language, spatial ability). This impairment in episodic memory is evident among individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and can be used to predict likelihood of progression to dementia, particularly in association with AD biomarkers. Additionally, cognitively normal individuals who are likely to progress to mild impairment tend to perform more poorly on tests of episodic memory than do those who remain stable. This cognitive presentation is consistent with the pathology of AD, showing neuronal loss in medial temporal lobe structures essential for normal memory. Similarly, there are correlations between magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measures of medial temporal lobe structures and memory performance among individuals with mild cognitive impairment. There are recent reports that amyloid accumulation may also be associated with memory performance in cognitively normal individuals.
Key findings
- There are recent reports that amyloid accumulation may also be associated with memory performance in cognitively normal individuals.
Why it matters
This paper describes how Alzheimer's typically begins with decline in episodic memory, which is already evident in mild cognitive impairment and can help predict progression to dementia, especially alongside Alzheimer's biomarkers. It notes recent reports that amyloid accumulation may also be associated with memory performance in cognitively normal people, but it presents no treatment or cure.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
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 (Neurobiology of aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neurobiology of Aging: journal h-index 263 (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 | 2011 — 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 150 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.8 citations a year over 17 year(s) since 2011 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.5× 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 39 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Marilyn Albert: h-index 89 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22078174) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.09.010
- PubMed: 22078174
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Albert, M. S. (2011). Changes in cognition. Neurobiology of aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.09.010
Vancouver
Albert MS. Changes in cognition. Neurobiology of aging. 2011. doi:10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.09.010. PMID: 22078174.
BibTeX
@article{albert2011-22078174,
author = {Albert, M. S.},
title = {{Changes in cognition}},
journal = {Neurobiology of aging},
year = {2011},
doi = {10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.09.010},
pmid = {22078174},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.09.010}
}
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