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Disrupted modular brain dynamics reflect cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease
de Haan W, van der Flier WM, Koene T, Smits LL, Scheltens P, Stam CJ.. NeuroImage, 2011-11-30
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
The relation between pathology and cognitive dysfunction in dementia is still poorly understood, although disturbed communication between different brain regions is almost certainly involved. In this study we combine magneto-encephalography (MEG) and network analysis to investigate the role of functional sub-networks (modules) in the brain with regard to cognitive failure in Alzheimer's disease. Whole-head resting-state (MEG) was performed in 18 Alzheimer patients (age 67 ± 9, 6 females, MMSE 23 ± 5) and 18 healthy controls (age 66 ± 9, 11 females, MMSE 29 ± 1). We constructed functional brain networks based on interregional synchronization measurements, and performed graph theoretical analysis with a focus on modular organization. The overall modular strength and the number of modules changed significantly in Alzheimer patients. The parietal cortex was the most highly connected network area, but showed the strongest intramodular losses. Nonetheless, weakening of intermodular connectivity was even more outspoken, and more strongly related to cognitive impairment. The results of this study demonstrate that particularly the loss of communication between different functional brain regions reflects cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. These findings imply the relevance of regarding dementia as a functional network disorder.
Key findings
- The overall modular strength and the number of modules changed significantly in Alzheimer patients.
- The results of this study demonstrate that particularly the loss of communication between different functional brain regions reflects cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease.
- These findings imply the relevance of regarding dementia as a functional network disorder.
Why it matters
This small MEG study of 18 Alzheimer patients and 18 healthy controls found changes in brain network modules, with loss of communication between regions related to cognitive impairment. It supports viewing dementia as a network disorder but does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
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 (NeuroImage) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | NeuroImage: journal h-index 523 (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 | 2012 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| 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 222 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.9 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 37 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Cornelis J. Stam: h-index 108 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Amsterdam UMC Location Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam: institution h-index 938 (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 22154957) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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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
de Haan, W., van der Flier, W. M., Koene, T., Smits, L. L., Scheltens, P., & Stam, C. J. (2012). Disrupted modular brain dynamics reflect cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. NeuroImage. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.11.055
Vancouver
de Haan W, van der Flier WM, Koene T, Smits LL, Scheltens P, Stam CJ. Disrupted modular brain dynamics reflect cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease. NeuroImage. 2012. doi:10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.11.055. PMID: 22154957.
BibTeX
@article{dehaan2012-22154957,
author = {de Haan, W. and van der Flier, W. M. and Koene, T. and Smits, L. L. and Scheltens, P. and Stam, C. J.},
title = {{Disrupted modular brain dynamics reflect cognitive dysfunction in Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {NeuroImage},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.11.055},
pmid = {22154957},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuroimage.2011.11.055}
}
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