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Genetics ignite focus on microglial inflammation in Alzheimer's disease
Malik M, Parikh I, Vasquez JB, Smith C, Tai L, Bu G, LaDu MJ, Fardo DW et al.. Molecular neurodegeneration, 2015-10-05
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
In the past five years, a series of large-scale genetic studies have revealed novel risk factors for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Analyses of these risk factors have focused attention upon the role of immune processes in AD, specifically microglial function. In this review, we discuss interpretation of genetic studies.
Key findings
- Analyses of these risk factors have focused attention upon the role of immune processes in AD, specifically microglial function.
- In this review, we discuss interpretation of genetic studies.
- We then focus upon six genes implicated by AD genetics that impact microglial function: TREM2, CD33, CR1, ABCA7, SHIP1, and APOE.
- We review the literature regarding the biological functions of these six proteins and their putative role in AD pathogenesis.
Why it matters
This review discusses how genetic studies have pointed to immune processes and microglial function in Alzheimer's, focusing on six genes including TREM2 and APOE. It summarizes existing literature and does not report a treatment or cure.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
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 (Molecular neurodegeneration) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Molecular Neurodegeneration: journal h-index 164 (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 | 2015 — 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 162 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 12.5 citations a year over 13 year(s) since 2015 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 18 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 31 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Steven Estus: h-index 48 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Mayo Clinic: institution h-index 1,606 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 26438529) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s13024-015-0048-1
- PubMed: 26438529
- Original source →
- Free full text: Molecular Neurodegeneration →
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. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Malik, M., Parikh, I., Vasquez, J. B., Smith, C., Tai, L., Bu, G., et al. (2015). Genetics ignite focus on microglial inflammation in Alzheimer's disease. Molecular neurodegeneration. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-015-0048-1
Vancouver
Malik M, Parikh I, Vasquez JB, Smith C, Tai L, Bu G, et al. Genetics ignite focus on microglial inflammation in Alzheimer's disease. Molecular neurodegeneration. 2015. doi:10.1186/s13024-015-0048-1. PMID: 26438529.
BibTeX
@article{malik2015-26438529,
author = {Malik, M. and Parikh, I. and Vasquez, J. B. and Smith, C. and Tai, L. and Bu, G. and LaDu, M. J. and Fardo, D. W. and others},
title = {{Genetics ignite focus on microglial inflammation in Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Molecular neurodegeneration},
year = {2015},
doi = {10.1186/s13024-015-0048-1},
pmid = {26438529},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13024-015-0048-1}
}
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