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Glymphatic activity is linked to the synaptic vesicle cycle pathway in frontotemporal dementia: A metabolomics study
Min Chu, Ailing Yue, Haitian Nan, Hong Ye, Miao Qu, Liyong Wu. Neurobiology of Disease, 2025-10-07
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Emerging evidence implicating glymphatic dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of frontotemporal dementia (FTD). However, the pathway correlated to glymphatic function in FTD remains poorly understood. We aimed to explore potential underlying metabolic pathways associated with glymphatic dysfunction in FTD. We enrolled 37 behavior FTD (bvFTD) patients and 40 healthy controls. Glymphatic activity was assessed using diffusion tensor imaging data. Plasma metabolomic profiling was performed to identify glymphatic-associated metabolites, followed by pathway enrichment analysis. Additionally, the plasma biomarker was tested in a subset of 25 patients to validate the metabolite findings. Patients with bvFTD exhibited significantly altered metabolite profiles compared to controls. The glymphatic-associated metabolites were predominantly enriched in the synaptic vesicle cycle pathway (FDR p < 0.05). Furthermore, plasma neuropentraxin-2 (NPTX2) levels positively correlated with anterior glymphatic indices ( r = 0.46, p = 0.027). Our findings demonstrate the association between the glymphatic system and synaptic function in bvFTD. • Significant metabolic profile differences between bvFTD patients and controls. • Glymphatic-associated metabolites enriched in synaptic pathways. • Plasma NPTX2 levels positively correlate with anterior glymphatic indices. • Metabolite changes highlight potential therapeutic targets for FTD.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Chu, M., Yue, A., Nan, H., Ye, H., Qu, M., & Wu, L. (2025). Glymphatic activity is linked to the synaptic vesicle cycle pathway in frontotemporal dementia: A metabolomics study. Neurobiology of Disease. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2025.107135
Vancouver
Chu M, Yue A, Nan H, Ye H, Qu M, Wu L. Glymphatic activity is linked to the synaptic vesicle cycle pathway in frontotemporal dementia: A metabolomics study. Neurobiology of Disease. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.nbd.2025.107135. PMID: 41061808.
BibTeX
@article{chu2025-41061808,
author = {Chu, Min and Yue, Ailing and Nan, Haitian and Ye, Hong and Qu, Miao and Wu, Liyong},
title = {{Glymphatic activity is linked to the synaptic vesicle cycle pathway in frontotemporal dementia: A metabolomics study}},
journal = {Neurobiology of Disease},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.nbd.2025.107135},
pmid = {41061808},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nbd.2025.107135}
}
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Key findings
- We aimed to explore potential underlying metabolic pathways associated with glymphatic dysfunction in FTD.
- Patients with bvFTD exhibited significantly altered metabolite profiles compared to controls.
- Our findings demonstrate the association between the glymphatic system and synaptic function in bvFTD. • Significant metabolic profile differences between bvFTD patients and controls. • Glymphatic-associated metabolites enriched in synaptic pathways. • Plasma NPTX2 levels positively correlate with anterior glymphatic indices. • Metabolite changes highlight potential therapeutic targets for FTD.
Why it matters
In 37 patients with behavioral frontotemporal dementia and 40 healthy controls, glymphatic-associated metabolites were mainly enriched in the synaptic vesicle cycle pathway, and plasma NPTX2 correlated with anterior glymphatic indices. This shows an association between the glymphatic system and synaptic function but does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Participants37
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
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 (Neurobiology of Disease) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Neurobiology of Disease: journal h-index 225 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 37 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 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.4× 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 | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Liyong Wu: h-index 24 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Capital Medical University: institution h-index 643 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41061808) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2025.107135
- PubMed: 41061808
- Original source →
- Free full text: Neurobiology of Disease →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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