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Cognitive Trajectories from Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease to Dementia
Fredrik Öhman, Lars Lau Raket, Michael Schöll, for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Advanced Science, 2026-03-30
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is marked by progressive cognitive decline, highlighting the importance of cognitive assessment in both clinical practice and research. This study investigates the temporal dynamics of cognitive decline and the differential sensitivity of cognitive measures across the AD spectrum. Cognitive measures, functional assessments, and amyloid-beta (Aβ) and tau positron emission tomography (PET) scans from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) are analyzed using a latent-time disease progression model. Data from 1,447 participants across cognitively normal, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia stages are positioned along an estimated AD timeline. The model estimates a ∼20-year progression from initial Aβ PET positivity to late-stage dementia. Cognitive trajectories reveal that cognitive measures deviate at different time points, with varying levels of abnormality across the disease continuum. These findings demonstrate that cognitive measures differ markedly in their sensitivity across the AD continuum. Characterizing when specific measures become abnormal provides a framework for stage-appropriate test selection in clinical practice, improving clinical interpretation while informing the choice of cognitive endpoints and inclusion criteria in clinical trials.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Öhman, F., Raket, L. L., Schöll, M., & Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. (2026). Cognitive Trajectories from Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease to Dementia. Advanced Science. https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202518124
Vancouver
Öhman F, Raket LL, Schöll M, Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative. Cognitive Trajectories from Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease to Dementia. Advanced Science. 2026. doi:10.1002/advs.202518124. PMID: 41910174.
BibTeX
@article{ohman2026-41910174,
author = {Öhman, Fredrik and Raket, Lars Lau and Schöll, Michael and {Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative}},
title = {{Cognitive Trajectories from Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease to Dementia}},
journal = {Advanced Science},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1002/advs.202518124},
pmid = {41910174},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202518124}
}
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Key findings
- These findings demonstrate that cognitive measures differ markedly in their sensitivity across the AD continuum.
Why it matters
Using data from 1,447 participants, this study modeled cognitive decline over about 20 years from amyloid positivity to dementia and found that different cognitive measures become abnormal at different times. This may help guide test selection and trial design but does not provide a treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Participants1,447
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Advanced Science) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Advanced Science: journal h-index 282 (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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,447 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) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author for the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative: h-index 12 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Lund University: institution h-index 1,119 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41910174) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
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