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Epidemiology of Presenile Alzheimer's Disease in Scotland (1974–88)
Lawrence J. Whalley, Brenda M. Thomas, John M. Starr. The British Journal of Psychiatry, 1995-12-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
We found that an ecological measure of socio-economic deprivation was related to VaD but not to AD PSD. Among men with AD PSD and VaD, specific occupations conveyed no altered risk but having fathers who were coal miners was associated with AD PSD and VaD in offspring. Increased paternal age was associated with AD PSD but only in men. These factors acted independently of one another and did not distinguish between geographical areas of high and low incidence. The length of survival after presentation with AD PSD distinguished between these areas, and when migration between these areas was taken into account, a plausible multifactorial model of the harmful effects of environment emerged, which acted independently of risk factors acting earlier in life.
Key findings
- We found that an ecological measure of socio-economic deprivation was related to VaD but not to AD PSD.
- Among men with AD PSD and VaD, specific occupations conveyed no altered risk but having fathers who were coal miners was associated with AD PSD and VaD in offspring.
- Increased paternal age was associated with AD PSD but only in men.
- These factors acted independently of one another and did not distinguish between geographical areas of high and low incidence.
- The length of survival after presentation with AD PSD distinguished between these areas, and when migration between these areas was taken into account, a plausible multifactorial model of the harmful effects of environment emerged, which acted independently of risk factors acting earlier in life.
Why it matters
This study examined factors such as occupation, paternal age and area of residence in people with presenile Alzheimer's disease in Scotland. It does not test any treatment, cure or prevention, and the findings are from an older ecological analysis rather than a trial of any intervention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 33/100
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 (The British Journal of Psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The British Journal of Psychiatry: journal h-index 376 (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 | 1995 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 | 3 / 7 | Cited 27 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.8 citations a year over 33 year(s) since 1995 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author John M. Starr: h-index 46 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Hammersmith Hospital: institution h-index 831 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 8829739) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 33 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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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
Whalley, L. J., Thomas, B. M., & Starr, J. M. (1995). Epidemiology of Presenile Alzheimer's Disease in Scotland (1974–88). The British Journal of Psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.167.6.732
Vancouver
Whalley LJ, Thomas BM, Starr JM. Epidemiology of Presenile Alzheimer's Disease in Scotland (1974–88). The British Journal of Psychiatry. 1995. doi:10.1192/bjp.167.6.732. PMID: 8829739.
BibTeX
@article{whalley1995-8829739,
author = {Whalley, Lawrence J. and Thomas, Brenda M. and Starr, John M.},
title = {{Epidemiology of Presenile Alzheimer's Disease in Scotland (1974–88)}},
journal = {The British Journal of Psychiatry},
year = {1995},
doi = {10.1192/bjp.167.6.732},
pmid = {8829739},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1192/bjp.167.6.732}
}
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