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Enhanced taupathy and AD-like pathology in aged primate brains decades after infantile exposure to lead (Pb)
Bihaqi SW, Zawia NH.. Neurotoxicology, 2013-08-21
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Late Onset Alzheimer Disease (LOAD) constitutes the majority of AD cases (∼90%). Amyloidosis and tau pathology, which are present in AD brains, appear to be sporadic in nature. We have previously shown that infantile lead (Pb) exposure is associated with a change in the expression and regulation of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its beta amyloid (Aβ) products in old age.
Key findings
- Amyloidosis and tau pathology, which are present in AD brains, appear to be sporadic in nature.
- We have previously shown that infantile lead (Pb) exposure is associated with a change in the expression and regulation of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) and its beta amyloid (Aβ) products in old age.
- Here we report that infantile Pb exposure elevated the mRNA and protein levels of tau as well as its transcriptional regulators namely specificity protein 1 and 3 (Sp1 and Sp3) in aged primates.
- These changes were also accompanied by an enhancement in site-specific tau phosphorylation as well as an increase in the mRNA and protein levels of cyclin dependent kinase 5 (cdk5).
Why it matters
In aged primates, infantile exposure to lead raised levels of tau and its regulators, suggesting an early-life environmental exposure may contribute to Alzheimer-like tau pathology decades later. This was a study in animals, so it does not show that lead exposure causes Alzheimer's disease in people or that any treatment can prevent it.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
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 (Neurotoxicology) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | NeuroToxicology: journal h-index 142 (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 | 2013 — 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 108 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.2 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.9× 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 | 2 / 4 | Cited 17 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Nasser H. Zawia: h-index 37 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | University of Rhode Island: institution h-index 474 (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 23973560) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2013.07.010
- PubMed: 23973560
- 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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Bihaqi, S. W., & Zawia, N. H. (2013). Enhanced taupathy and AD-like pathology in aged primate brains decades after infantile exposure to lead (Pb). Neurotoxicology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2013.07.010
Vancouver
Bihaqi SW, Zawia NH. Enhanced taupathy and AD-like pathology in aged primate brains decades after infantile exposure to lead (Pb). Neurotoxicology. 2013. doi:10.1016/j.neuro.2013.07.010. PMID: 23973560.
BibTeX
@article{bihaqi2013-23973560,
author = {Bihaqi, S. W. and Zawia, N. H.},
title = {{Enhanced taupathy and AD-like pathology in aged primate brains decades after infantile exposure to lead (Pb)}},
journal = {Neurotoxicology},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1016/j.neuro.2013.07.010},
pmid = {23973560},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2013.07.010}
}
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