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Changes in premorbid brain volume predict Alzheimer's disease pathology
Silbert LC, Quinn JF, Moore MM, Corbridge E, Ball MJ, Murdoch G, Sexton G, Kaye JA.. Neurology, 2003-08-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Objective To assess whether changes in antemortem MRI brain volume measurements are valid predictors of subsequent Alzheimer disease (AD) pathology. Methods Thirty-nine subjects, 15 nondemented and 24 with cognitive impairment, were followed until death. Regional postmortem measures of senile plaque (SP) and neurofibrillary tangle (NFT) severity were examined in relationship to cross-sectional and longitudinal volumetric measurements obtained from antemortem MRI. Results Total brain volume change over time was related to the accumulation of cortical NFT. The rate of ventricular CSF volume increase was related to both cortical NFT and SP. The last hippocampal volume prior to death was related to hippocampal NFT burden; the rate of hippocampal volume atrophy was not related to hippocampal NFT pathology. These significant relationships continue to exist when all nondemented subjects are excluded from analysis. In subjects with cognitive impairment, the best predictor of cortical NFT and SP is the rate of ventricular volume increase. Excluding subjects with long duration between MRI and death did not appreciably alter results. Conclusions MRI volumes measured over time are valid biomarkers of pathologic progression of AD across a range of antemortem clinical states. The rate of ventricular volume enlargement can be used to monitor disease progression or response to treatment in future clinical trials that are targeted at NFT and SP pathology.
Key findings
- Results Total brain volume change over time was related to the accumulation of cortical NFT.
- These significant relationships continue to exist when all nondemented subjects are excluded from analysis.
- Excluding subjects with long duration between MRI and death did not appreciably alter results.
Why it matters
In 39 subjects followed to death, rates of total brain volume loss and ventricular enlargement were related to postmortem Alzheimer pathology such as tangles and plaques. The authors propose these MRI measures could monitor disease progression or response to treatment, but the study itself tested no treatment.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 56/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in 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 | 1 / 5 | 2003 — 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 280 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.2 citations a year over 25 year(s) since 2003 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 32 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 16 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Jeffrey Alan Kaye: h-index 122 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Oregon Health & Science University: institution h-index 1,025 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12939422) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 56 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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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 names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Silbert, L. C., Quinn, J. F., Moore, M. M., Corbridge, E., Ball, M. J., Murdoch, G., et al. (2003). Changes in premorbid brain volume predict Alzheimer's disease pathology. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000079053.77227.14
Vancouver
Silbert LC, Quinn JF, Moore MM, Corbridge E, Ball MJ, Murdoch G, et al. Changes in premorbid brain volume predict Alzheimer's disease pathology. Neurology. 2003. doi:10.1212/01.wnl.0000079053.77227.14. PMID: 12939422.
BibTeX
@article{silbert2003-12939422,
author = {Silbert, L. C. and Quinn, J. F. and Moore, M. M. and Corbridge, E. and Ball, M. J. and Murdoch, G. and Sexton, G. and Kaye, J. A.},
title = {{Changes in premorbid brain volume predict Alzheimer's disease pathology}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1212/01.wnl.0000079053.77227.14},
pmid = {12939422},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000079053.77227.14}
}
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