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Changing perspectives regarding late-life dementia
Fotuhi M, Hachinski V, Whitehouse PJ.. Nature reviews. Neurology, 2009-11-17
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Individuals over 80 years of age represent the most rapidly growing segment of the population, and late-life dementia has become a major public health concern worldwide. Development of effective preventive and treatment strategies for late-life dementia relies on a deep understanding of all the processes involved. In the centuries since the Greek philosopher Pythagoras described the inevitable loss of higher cognitive functions with advanced age, various theories regarding the potential culprits have dominated the field, ranging from demonic possession, through 'hardening of blood vessels', to Alzheimer disease (AD).
Key findings
- Development of effective preventive and treatment strategies for late-life dementia relies on a deep understanding of all the processes involved.
- In the centuries since the Greek philosopher Pythagoras described the inevitable loss of higher cognitive functions with advanced age, various theories regarding the potential culprits have dominated the field, ranging from demonic possession, through 'hardening of blood vessels', to Alzheimer disease (AD).
- Recent studies suggest that atrophy in the cortex and hippocampus-now considered to be the best determinant of cognitive decline with aging-results from a combination of AD pathology, inflammation, Lewy bodies, and vascular lesions.
- A specific constellation of genetic and environmental factors (including apolipoprotein E genotype, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, head trauma, systemic illnesses, and obstructive sleep apnea) contributes to late-life brain atrophy and dementia in each individual.
Why it matters
This paper discusses changing perspectives on late-life dementia and notes that developing effective preventive and treatment strategies depends on understanding all the processes involved. It reports no specific treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
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 (Nature reviews. Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Nature Reviews Neurology: journal h-index 269 (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 | 2009 — 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 293 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.4 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 11 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 17 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Peter John Whitehouse: h-index 70 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Case Western Reserve University: institution h-index 1,159 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19918254) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Fotuhi, M., Hachinski, V., & Whitehouse, P. J. (2009). Changing perspectives regarding late-life dementia. Nature reviews. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2009.175
Vancouver
Fotuhi M, Hachinski V, Whitehouse PJ. Changing perspectives regarding late-life dementia. Nature reviews. Neurology. 2009. doi:10.1038/nrneurol.2009.175. PMID: 19918254.
BibTeX
@article{fotuhi2009-19918254,
author = {Fotuhi, M. and Hachinski, V. and Whitehouse, P. J.},
title = {{Changing perspectives regarding late-life dementia}},
journal = {Nature reviews. Neurology},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1038/nrneurol.2009.175},
pmid = {19918254},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/nrneurol.2009.175}
}
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