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Early syndecan-4 upregulation predicts cognitive and pathological trajectories in Alzheimer disease
Rawan M. Tarawneh, Krista L. Moulder, Danai Georgia Topouza, Amrita Ghosh Kar, Heng Qian, V. Shane Pankratz, Jigyasha Timsina, Erin E. Franklin et al.. Alzheimer s Research & Therapy, 2026-05-07
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Results CSF SDC4 levels were elevated in AD, including the earliest preclinical stages, compared to controls and were closely associated with CSF and imaging biomarkers of amyloid and tau, and CSF biomarkers of neuronal and synaptic injury, astrocytic reactivity and microglial dysregulation.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Tarawneh, R. M., Moulder, K. L., Topouza, D. G., Kar, A. G., Qian, H., Pankratz, V. S., et al. (2026). Early syndecan-4 upregulation predicts cognitive and pathological trajectories in Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer s Research & Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-026-02043-2
Vancouver
Tarawneh RM, Moulder KL, Topouza DG, Kar AG, Qian H, Pankratz VS, et al. Early syndecan-4 upregulation predicts cognitive and pathological trajectories in Alzheimer disease. Alzheimer s Research & Therapy. 2026. doi:10.1186/s13195-026-02043-2. PMID: 42098850.
BibTeX
@article{tarawneh2026-42098850,
author = {Tarawneh, Rawan M. and Moulder, Krista L. and Topouza, Danai Georgia and Kar, Amrita Ghosh and Qian, Heng and Pankratz, V. Shane and Timsina, Jigyasha and Franklin, Erin E. and others},
title = {{Early syndecan-4 upregulation predicts cognitive and pathological trajectories in Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Alzheimer s Research \& Therapy},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1186/s13195-026-02043-2},
pmid = {42098850},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-026-02043-2}
}
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Key findings
- Results CSF SDC4 levels were elevated in AD, including the earliest preclinical stages, compared to controls and were closely associated with CSF and imaging biomarkers of amyloid and tau, and CSF biomarkers of neuronal and synaptic injury, astrocytic reactivity and microglial dysregulation.
Why it matters
CSF levels of syndecan-4 were elevated in Alzheimer's disease, including the earliest preclinical stages, and were closely tied to amyloid and tau biomarkers and markers of neuronal, synaptic, astrocytic and microglial changes. This is a cross-sectional finding about a possible marker, not a treatment or cure.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants1,041
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 55/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in 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 (Alzheimer s Research & Therapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer s Research & Therapy: journal h-index 146 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in 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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,041 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 | 1 / 7 | Cited 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 19.0× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Carlos C Cruchaga: h-index 102 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42098850) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 55 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s13195-026-02043-2
- PubMed: 42098850
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s Research & Therapy →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
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