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Circadian Rest-Activity Pattern Changes in Aging and Preclinical Alzheimer Disease
Musiek ES, Bhimasani M, Zangrilli MA, Morris JC, Holtzman DM, Ju YS.. JAMA neurology, 2018-05-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Results Data from 189 participants were included in the analyses. Older age (β = .247; P = .003) and male sex (β = .170; P = .04), in the absence of amyloid pathology, were associated with a significant increase in intradaily variability, a nonparametric measure of rest-activity rhythm fragmentation, as well as decreased amplitude by several measures. After correction for age and sex, the presence of preclinical amyloid plaque pathology, assessed by positive PiB imaging (mean [SD], 0.804 [0.187] for PiB negative vs 0.875 [0.178] for PiB positive; P = .05) or increasing cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated-tau to amyloid β 42 ratio (β = .231; P = .008), was associated with increased intradaily variability, indicating rest-activity rhythm fragmentation. Conclusions and relevance Preclinical AD is associated with rest-activity rhythm fragmentation, independent of age or sex. Aging was also associated with circadian dysfunction independently of preclinical AD pathology, particularly in men. The presence of circadian rhythm abnormalities in the preclinical phase of AD suggests that circadian dysfunction could contribute to early disease pathogenesis or serve as a biomarker of preclinical disease.
Key findings
- Results Data from 189 participants were included in the analyses.
- Older age (β = .247; P = .003) and male sex (β = .170; P = .04), in the absence of amyloid pathology, were associated with a significant increase in intradaily variability, a nonparametric measure of rest-activity rhythm fragmentation, as well as decreased amplitude by several measures.
- After correction for age and sex, the presence of preclinical amyloid plaque pathology, assessed by positive PiB imaging (mean [SD], 0.804 [0.187] for PiB negative vs 0.875 [0.178] for PiB positive; P = .05) or increasing cerebrospinal fluid phosphorylated-tau to amyloid β 42 ratio (β = .231; P = .008), was associated with increased intradaily variability, indicating rest-activity rhythm fragmentation.
- Conclusions and relevance Preclinical AD is associated with rest-activity rhythm fragmentation, independent of age or sex.
- Aging was also associated with circadian dysfunction independently of preclinical AD pathology, particularly in men.
Why it matters
In 189 participants, preclinical amyloid pathology was associated with more fragmented rest-activity rhythms, independent of age and sex, while aging was also associated with circadian dysfunction independently of amyloid. The presence of circadian abnormalities in the preclinical phase suggests circadian dysfunction could contribute to early disease pathogenesis or serve as a biomarker.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants205
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 61/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (JAMA neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | JAMA Neurology: journal h-index 235 (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 | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 205 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 467 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 46.7 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 19.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 15 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 196 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Yo‐El S. Ju: h-index 28 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (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 29379963) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 61 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.4719
- PubMed: 29379963
- Original source →
- Free full text: JAMA Neurology →
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
Musiek, E. S., Bhimasani, M., Zangrilli, M. A., Morris, J. C., Holtzman, D. M., & Ju, Y. S. (2018). Circadian Rest-Activity Pattern Changes in Aging and Preclinical Alzheimer Disease. JAMA neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.4719
Vancouver
Musiek ES, Bhimasani M, Zangrilli MA, Morris JC, Holtzman DM, Ju YS. Circadian Rest-Activity Pattern Changes in Aging and Preclinical Alzheimer Disease. JAMA neurology. 2018. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.4719. PMID: 29379963.
BibTeX
@article{musiek2018-29379963,
author = {Musiek, E. S. and Bhimasani, M. and Zangrilli, M. A. and Morris, J. C. and Holtzman, D. M. and Ju, Y. S.},
title = {{Circadian Rest-Activity Pattern Changes in Aging and Preclinical Alzheimer Disease}},
journal = {JAMA neurology},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.4719},
pmid = {29379963},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2017.4719}
}
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