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Changes in DTI-ALPS index and its associations with neuronal damage in Lewy body disease
Michael John Firbank, Paul C. Donaghy, Louise M. Allan, N. Barnett, Sally A. H. Barker, Joanna Ciafone, Rory Durcan, G. Greenfinch et al.. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders, 2025-09-04
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
DTI-ALPS values were significantly lower compared to HC in both DLB (Estimate = -0.084 [-0.14 to -0.03], p = 0.004) and MCI-LB (Estimate = -0.058 [-0.11 to -0.002], p = 0.047) DTI-ALPS was also significantly associated with both baseline (t[147] = 2.22, p = 0.028) and longitudinal decline (t[127] = 2.41,p = 0.017) in cognitive score. There were significant associations of DTI-ALPS with plasma NfL (t[141] = -2.72, p = 0.007), and GFAP (t[141] = -2.83, p = 0.005), but not amyloid levels, nor with amyloid PET uptake. DTI-ALPS is reduced in DLB compared to healthy comparators. Our findings suggest that dysfunction of the glymphatic system may contribute to neuronal damage in Lewy body disease. However further research is needed to clarify the role of the glymphatic system, and also the specificity of DTI-ALPS as a marker of glymphatic function.
Key findings
- DTI-ALPS values were significantly lower compared to HC in both DLB (Estimate = -0.084 [-0.14 to -0.03], p = 0.004) and MCI-LB (Estimate = -0.058 [-0.11 to -0.002], p = 0.047) DTI-ALPS was also significantly associated with both baseline (t[147] = 2.22, p = 0.028) and longitudinal decline (t[127] = 2.41,p = 0.017) in cognitive score.
- There were significant associations of DTI-ALPS with plasma NfL (t[141] = -2.72, p = 0.007), and GFAP (t[141] = -2.83, p = 0.005), but not amyloid levels, nor with amyloid PET uptake.
- DTI-ALPS is reduced in DLB compared to healthy comparators.
- Our findings suggest that dysfunction of the glymphatic system may contribute to neuronal damage in Lewy body disease.
- However further research is needed to clarify the role of the glymphatic system, and also the specificity of DTI-ALPS as a marker of glymphatic function.
Why it matters
A brain imaging measure called DTI-ALPS was lower in people with dementia with Lewy bodies and mild cognitive impairment with Lewy bodies compared to healthy controls, and it was linked to cognitive decline and to blood markers of nerve and astrocyte damage. The authors say further research is needed to clarify the role of the glymphatic system and whether DTI-ALPS specifically measures it.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants32
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over 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 (Parkinsonism & Related Disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Parkinsonism & Related Disorders: journal h-index 155 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over time |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 32 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 | 2 / 7 | Cited 13 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.3× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 13 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author John‐Paul Taylor: h-index 67 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Cambridge: institution h-index 1,973 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40921114) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.parkreldis.2025.108014
- PubMed: 40921114
- Original source →
- Free full text: Parkinsonism & Related Disorders →
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
Firbank, M. J., Donaghy, P. C., Allan, L. M., Barnett, N., Barker, S. A. H., Ciafone, J., et al. (2025). Changes in DTI-ALPS index and its associations with neuronal damage in Lewy body disease. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2025.108014
Vancouver
Firbank MJ, Donaghy PC, Allan LM, Barnett N, Barker SAH, Ciafone J, et al. Changes in DTI-ALPS index and its associations with neuronal damage in Lewy body disease. Parkinsonism & Related Disorders. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.parkreldis.2025.108014. PMID: 40921114.
BibTeX
@article{firbank2025-40921114,
author = {Firbank, Michael John and Donaghy, Paul C. and Allan, Louise M. and Barnett, N. and Barker, Sally A. H. and Ciafone, Joanna and Durcan, Rory and Greenfinch, G. and others},
title = {{Changes in DTI-ALPS index and its associations with neuronal damage in Lewy body disease}},
journal = {Parkinsonism \& Related Disorders},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.parkreldis.2025.108014},
pmid = {40921114},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.parkreldis.2025.108014}
}
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