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Dementia from Small Vessel Disease Versus Alzheimer’s Disease: Separate Diseases or Distinct Manifestations of Cerebral Capillopathy Due to Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction? A Pilot Study
Charles R Joseph, Davis Melin, Lindsay K. Wanner, Boyd K. Hartman, Jason Badelita, Lucy Conser, Harrison D. Kline, Pranav Pradhan et al.. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 2025-05-23
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Plain-language summary
Pathophysiological differences separating small vessel disease (SVD) from Alzheimer's disease (AD) may alter treatment approach. Investigating peak-arterial and late-capillary perfusion may differentiate SVD from AD. 14 Subjects with MoCA scores of 11-24 were divided into 2 groups. Group one: 6 AD likely subjects positive for 1 or 2 copies of APOE 4+. Group two: 8 SVD likely subjects APOE-. Group three: 7 age-matched controls (MoCA 26-30). All underwent 3D PASL MRI, FLAIR, and SWI axial MRI. Arterial phase peak amplitude and latency, late capillary inflow/clearance rates, and anatomic abnormalities quantitated using microhemorrhage count, Fazekas, Koedam, and Schelton scales were compared. Arterial perfusion demonstrated no statistical differences among SVD, AD, and controls, suggesting normal arterial flow. Late phase perfusion showed significant localized reduction in capillary flow/clearance rates in SVD and AD compared to controls. Absent arterial phase but significant capillary inflow/clearance differences from controls suggest SVD and AD share common impaired blood-brain barrier origins.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
The record lists 14 participants. In this small pilot study of 14 subjects, both small vessel disease and Alzheimer's disease showed reduced late capillary flow compared with controls, suggesting a shared blood-brain barrier problem. The study is preliminary and does not test any treatment.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Joseph, C. R., Melin, D., Wanner, L. K., Hartman, B. K., Badelita, J., Conser, L., et al. (2025). Dementia from Small Vessel Disease Versus Alzheimer’s Disease: Separate Diseases or Distinct Manifestations of Cerebral Capillopathy Due to Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction? A Pilot Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115040
Vancouver
Joseph CR, Melin D, Wanner LK, Hartman BK, Badelita J, Conser L, et al. Dementia from Small Vessel Disease Versus Alzheimer’s Disease: Separate Diseases or Distinct Manifestations of Cerebral Capillopathy Due to Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction? A Pilot Study. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2025. doi:10.3390/ijms26115040. PMID: 40507850.
BibTeX
@article{joseph2025-40507850,
author = {Joseph, Charles R and Melin, Davis and Wanner, Lindsay K. and Hartman, Boyd K. and Badelita, Jason and Conser, Lucy and Kline, Harrison D. and Pradhan, Pranav and others},
title = {{Dementia from Small Vessel Disease Versus Alzheimer’s Disease: Separate Diseases or Distinct Manifestations of Cerebral Capillopathy Due to Blood–Brain Barrier Dysfunction? A Pilot Study}},
journal = {International Journal of Molecular Sciences},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3390/ijms26115040},
pmid = {40507850},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115040}
}
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.
Key findings
- Arterial perfusion demonstrated no statistical differences among SVD, AD, and controls, suggesting normal arterial flow.
- Late phase perfusion showed significant localized reduction in capillary flow/clearance rates in SVD and AD compared to controls.
- Absent arterial phase but significant capillary inflow/clearance differences from controls suggest SVD and AD share common impaired blood-brain barrier origins.
Why it matters
In this small pilot study of 14 subjects, both small vessel disease and Alzheimer's disease showed reduced late capillary flow compared with controls, suggesting a shared blood-brain barrier problem. The study is preliminary and does not test any treatment.
Study details
- Participants14
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
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 (International Journal of Molecular Sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | International Journal of Molecular Sciences: journal h-index 426 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 14 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 | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.1× 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 | 0 / 4 | Last-listed author Kim Love: h-index 3 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Liberty University: institution h-index 75 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter 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 40507850) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3390/ijms26115040
- PubMed: 40507850
- Original source →
- Free full text: International Journal of Molecular Sciences →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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