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Estimating cognitive function score from mild cognitive impairment to moderate dementia using a hybrid model combining plasma biomarkers with electroencephalogram signal
Guan‐Wei Chen, Yi‐Hung Liu, Chih‐Chuan Pan, Cheng-Chun Yen, Jie-Kai Yang, Che‐Sheng Chu, Cheng‐Sheng Chen. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease, 2026-03-13
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Predicting cognitive function across dementia stages remains challenging. Plasma biomarkers and electroencephalogram (EEG) features may provide complementary information, but their combined predictive value requires further study. Objective To evaluate the feasibility of integrating plasma biomarkers and EEG features to predict cognitive function in dementia and examine their correlations. Methods From September 2023 to October 2024, 75 patients from two medical centers with mild cognitive impairment, mild dementia, or moderate dementia were enrolled. Resting-state 19-channel EEG data yielded 2737 time-frequency and connectivity features. Plasma biomarkers included tau, p-Tau181, Aβ 1−42 , neurofilament light chain (NfL), brain-derived neurotrophic factor, apolipoprotein E genotype, and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Cognitive function was assessed using Cognitive Abilities Screening Instrument (CASI), Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), and Clinical Dementia Rating Sum of Boxes. Machine learning models were developed using plasma-only, EEG-only, and hybrid approaches. Results NfL was negatively correlated with CASI (t = −2.059, p 0.74 across all cognitive measures, outperforming plasma-only and EEG-only models. Conclusions Integrating EEG features with plasma biomarkers improves prediction of cognitive function from mild cognitive impairment to moderate dementia, pending external validation.
Key findings
- Results NfL was negatively correlated with CASI (t = −2.059, p 0.74 across all cognitive measures, outperforming plasma-only and EEG-only models.
Why it matters
In 75 patients with mild cognitive impairment or mild to moderate dementia, combining EEG features with plasma biomarkers predicted cognitive scores better than either alone. This is a small two-center study of prediction methods, not a treatment or prevention trial.
Study details
- Participants75
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 39/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Alzheimer s Disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 218 (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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 75 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 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.7× 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 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Cheng‐Sheng Chen: h-index 42 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University: institution h-index 451 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41823065) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 39 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Chen, G., Liu, Y., Pan, C., Yen, C.-C., Yang, J.-K., Chu, C., et al. (2026). Estimating cognitive function score from mild cognitive impairment to moderate dementia using a hybrid model combining plasma biomarkers with electroencephalogram signal. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease. https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877261429861
Vancouver
Chen G, Liu Y, Pan C, Yen C.-C, Yang J.-K, Chu C, et al. Estimating cognitive function score from mild cognitive impairment to moderate dementia using a hybrid model combining plasma biomarkers with electroencephalogram signal. Journal of Alzheimer s Disease. 2026. doi:10.1177/13872877261429861. PMID: 41823065.
BibTeX
@article{chen2026-41823065,
author = {Chen, Guan‐Wei and Liu, Yi‐Hung and Pan, Chih‐Chuan and Yen, Cheng-Chun and Yang, Jie-Kai and Chu, Che‐Sheng and Chen, Cheng‐Sheng},
title = {{Estimating cognitive function score from mild cognitive impairment to moderate dementia using a hybrid model combining plasma biomarkers with electroencephalogram signal}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer s Disease},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1177/13872877261429861},
pmid = {41823065},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1177/13872877261429861}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 13.