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Circle of willis atherosclerosis is a risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease
Roher AE, Esh C, Kokjohn TA, Kalback W, Luehrs DC, Seward JD, Sue LI, Beach TG.. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, 2003-09-25
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Objective We conducted a quantitative investigation of brain arterial atherosclerotic damage and its relationship to sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods and results Fifty-four consecutive autopsy cases, 32 AD and 22 nondemented control subjects, were examined to establish the degree of arterial stenosis. Vessel external and lumenal area measurements were taken from 3-mm arterial cross-sections to calculate a stenosis index. AD patient circle of Willis arteries possessed a significant degree of stenosis as a consequence of multiple and severe atherosclerotic lesions. These lesions were significantly more severe in AD cases than in age-matched controls (P Conclusions Our study reveals an association between severe circle of Willis atherosclerosis and sporadic AD that should be considered a risk factor for this dementia. These observations strongly suggest that atherosclerosis-induced brain hypoperfusion contributes to the clinical and pathological manifestations of AD.
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APA 7th
Roher, A. E., Esh, C., Kokjohn, T. A., Kalback, W., Luehrs, D. C., Seward, J. D., et al. (2003). Circle of willis atherosclerosis is a risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.atv.0000095973.42032.44
Vancouver
Roher AE, Esh C, Kokjohn TA, Kalback W, Luehrs DC, Seward JD, et al. Circle of willis atherosclerosis is a risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease. Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology. 2003. doi:10.1161/01.atv.0000095973.42032.44. PMID: 14512367.
BibTeX
@article{roher2003-14512367,
author = {Roher, A. E. and Esh, C. and Kokjohn, T. A. and Kalback, W. and Luehrs, D. C. and Seward, J. D. and Sue, L. I. and Beach, T. G.},
title = {{Circle of willis atherosclerosis is a risk factor for sporadic Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1161/01.atv.0000095973.42032.44},
pmid = {14512367},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1161/01.atv.0000095973.42032.44}
}
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.
Key findings
- Methods and results Fifty-four consecutive autopsy cases, 32 AD and 22 nondemented control subjects, were examined to establish the degree of arterial stenosis.
- AD patient circle of Willis arteries possessed a significant degree of stenosis as a consequence of multiple and severe atherosclerotic lesions.
- These lesions were significantly more severe in AD cases than in age-matched controls (P Conclusions Our study reveals an association between severe circle of Willis atherosclerosis and sporadic AD that should be considered a risk factor for this dementia.
- These observations strongly suggest that atherosclerosis-induced brain hypoperfusion contributes to the clinical and pathological manifestations of AD.
Why it matters
In this autopsy study, Alzheimer's disease cases had significantly more severe atherosclerosis of the circle of Willis arteries than age-matched controls, suggesting atherosclerosis-induced reduced brain blood flow contributes to the disease. The authors describe this as a risk factor association and report no treatment or cure.
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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 (Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology: journal h-index 340 (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 | 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 | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 17 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 | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Thomas G. Beach: h-index 132 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Banner Sun Health Research Institute: institution h-index 285 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 14512367) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
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