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Glucose metabolism, gray matter structure, and memory decline in subjective memory impairment
Scheef L, Spottke A, Daerr M, Joe A, Striepens N, Kölsch H, Popp J, Daamen M et al.. Neurology, 2012-08-22
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Objective To identify biological evidence for Alzheimer disease (AD) in individuals with subjective memory impairment (SMI) and unimpaired cognitive performance and to investigate the longitudinal cognitive course in these subjects. Method [¹⁸F]fluoro-2-deoxyglucose PET (FDG-PET) and structural MRI were acquired in 31 subjects with SMI and 56 controls. Cognitive follow-up testing was performed (average follow-up time: 35 months). Differences in baseline brain imaging data and in memory decline were assessed between both groups. Associations of memory decline with brain imaging data were tested. Results The SMI group showed hypometabolism in the right precuneus and hypermetabolism in the right medial temporal lobe. Gray matter volume was reduced in the right hippocampus in the SMI group. At follow-up, subjects with SMI showed a poorer performance than controls on measures of episodic memory. Longitudinal memory decline in the SMI group was associated with reduced glucose metabolism in the right precuneus at baseline. Conclusion The cross-sectional difference in 2 independent neuroimaging modalities indicates early AD pathology in SMI. The poorer memory performance at follow-up and the association of reduced longitudinal memory performance with hypometabolism in the precuneus at baseline support the concept of SMI as the earliest manifestation of AD.
Key findings
- Results The SMI group showed hypometabolism in the right precuneus and hypermetabolism in the right medial temporal lobe.
- Longitudinal memory decline in the SMI group was associated with reduced glucose metabolism in the right precuneus at baseline.
Why it matters
In 31 people with subjective memory impairment and 56 controls, the impaired group showed altered glucose metabolism in the precuneus and medial temporal lobe, reduced right hippocampal volume, and poorer memory at follow-up. This observational study supports the idea that subjective memory impairment may be an early sign of Alzheimer's but does not test any treatment or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants31
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 60/100
Published in a leading specialty 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 | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2012 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 31 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 277 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 17.3 citations a year over 16 year(s) since 2012 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 13.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 16 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 30 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Frank Jessen: h-index 101 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Bonn: institution h-index 1,072 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 22914828) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 60 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
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
Scheef, L., Spottke, A., Daerr, M., Joe, A., Striepens, N., Kölsch, H., et al. (2012). Glucose metabolism, gray matter structure, and memory decline in subjective memory impairment. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e31826c1a8d
Vancouver
Scheef L, Spottke A, Daerr M, Joe A, Striepens N, Kölsch H, et al. Glucose metabolism, gray matter structure, and memory decline in subjective memory impairment. Neurology. 2012. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e31826c1a8d. PMID: 22914828.
BibTeX
@article{scheef2012-22914828,
author = {Scheef, L. and Spottke, A. and Daerr, M. and Joe, A. and Striepens, N. and Kölsch, H. and Popp, J. and Daamen, M. and others},
title = {{Glucose metabolism, gray matter structure, and memory decline in subjective memory impairment}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2012},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0b013e31826c1a8d},
pmid = {22914828},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e31826c1a8d}
}
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