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Cognitive changes preceding clinical symptom onset of mild cognitive impairment and relationship to ApoE genotype
Albert M, Soldan A, Gottesman R, McKhann G, Sacktor N, Farrington L, Grega M, Turner R et al.. Current Alzheimer research, 2014-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background This study had two goals (1) to evaluate changes in neuropsychological performance among cognitively normal individuals that might precede the onset of clinical symptoms, and (2) to examine the impact of Apolipoprotein E (ApoE) genotype on these changes. Methods Longitudinal neuropsychological, clinical assessments and consensus diagnoses were completed prospectively in 268 cognitively normal individuals. The mean duration of follow-up was 9.2 years (+/- 3.3). 208 participants remained normal and 60 developed cognitive decline, consistent with a diagnosis of MCI or dementia. Cox regression analyses were completed, for both baseline scores and rate of change in scores, in relation to time to onset of clinical symptoms. Analyses were completed both with and without ApoE-4 status included. Interactions with ApoE-4 status were also examined. Results Lower baseline test scores, as well as greater rate of change in test scores, were associated with time to onset of clinical symptoms (p Conclusions Cognitive performance declines prior to the onset of clinical symptoms that are a harbinger of a diagnosis of MCI. Cognitive changes in normal individuals who will subsequently decline may be observed at least 6.5 years prior to symptom onset. In addition, the risk of decline is doubled among individuals with an ApoE-4 allele.
Key findings
- Results Lower baseline test scores, as well as greater rate of change in test scores, were associated with time to onset of clinical symptoms (p Conclusions Cognitive performance declines prior to the onset of clinical symptoms that are a harbinger of a diagnosis of MCI.
Why it matters
Cognitive test scores declined before clinical symptoms appeared, in some cases at least 6.5 years before onset, and risk of decline was doubled in people with an ApoE-4 allele. This is about early detection and risk, not about treating, curing, or preventing the disease.
Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants208
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 59/100
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 (Current Alzheimer research) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Current Alzheimer Research: journal h-index 119 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2014 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 208 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 161 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.5 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.4× 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 52 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Ola A. Selnes: h-index 70 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 25212916) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 59 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.2174/156720501108140910121920
- PubMed: 25212916
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
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
Albert, M., Soldan, A., Gottesman, R., McKhann, G., Sacktor, N., Farrington, L., et al. (2014). Cognitive changes preceding clinical symptom onset of mild cognitive impairment and relationship to ApoE genotype. Current Alzheimer research. https://doi.org/10.2174/156720501108140910121920
Vancouver
Albert M, Soldan A, Gottesman R, McKhann G, Sacktor N, Farrington L, et al. Cognitive changes preceding clinical symptom onset of mild cognitive impairment and relationship to ApoE genotype. Current Alzheimer research. 2014. doi:10.2174/156720501108140910121920. PMID: 25212916.
BibTeX
@article{albert2014-25212916,
author = {Albert, M. and Soldan, A. and Gottesman, R. and McKhann, G. and Sacktor, N. and Farrington, L. and Grega, M. and Turner, R. and others},
title = {{Cognitive changes preceding clinical symptom onset of mild cognitive impairment and relationship to ApoE genotype}},
journal = {Current Alzheimer research},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.2174/156720501108140910121920},
pmid = {25212916},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2174/156720501108140910121920}
}
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