This page is alzhub.org's plain-English summary of a published study, not the paper itself. It is generated from the record we hold for this study, sourced and linked below — check the original for the full text and methods.

41/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 41 out of 100. Vascular contributions

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

Abstract Background Glymphatic system dysfunction has been increasingly implicated in Alzheimer’s disease (AD), yet its relationships with cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD), plasma biomarkers, and cognitive impairment across the AD remain incompletely understood. Methods We prospectively recruited 216 participants from Hainan General Hospital, including healthy controls (HC), individuals with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and AD dementia. All participants underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging, plasma biomarker testing, and neuropsychological assessments. White matter hyperintensity (WMH) volume from T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery images served as a marker of CSVD. The diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) index assessed glymphatic function. Plasma amyloid β-protein (Aβ) concentrations measured peripheral Aβ levels as a surrogate indicator of amyloid pathology. Results The ALPS index was significantly lower in AD patients compared with HC, SCD, and MCI groups (all P < 0.01) and tended to be lower in the MCI group relative to SCD. After controlling for demographics and APOE4 status, ALPS positively correlated with the plasma Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio ( r = 0.16, P = 0.038). ALPS index showed significant negative correlations with log-transformed juxtaventricular and juxtacortical WMH volumes ( r = −0.32, P < 0.001; r = −0.19, P = 0.010), with marginal correlation for periventricular WMH ( r = −0.13, P = 0.052). Conclusion Plasma Aβ levels and regional WMH burden are associated with glymphatic dysfunction as indicated by reduced ALPS. Impaired glymphatic clearance also correlates with cognitive impairment, providing theoretical support for novel pathophysiological hypotheses and potential therapeutic targets in AD pathogenesis.

Key findings

Results The ALPS index was significantly lower in AD patients compared with HC, SCD, and MCI groups (all P < 0.01) and tended to be lower in the MCI group relative to SCD.
ALPS index showed significant negative correlations with log-transformed juxtaventricular and juxtacortical WMH volumes ( r = −0.32, P < 0.001; r = −0.19, P = 0.010), with marginal correlation for periventricular WMH ( r = −0.13, P = 0.052).
Conclusion Plasma Aβ levels and regional WMH burden are associated with glymphatic dysfunction as indicated by reduced ALPS.

Why it matters

Across the Alzheimer's continuum, a lower glymphatic function index was found in Alzheimer's patients and correlated with regional white matter hyperintensity volumes and plasma amyloid-β42/40 ratios. This links glymphatic dysfunction to small vessel disease and amyloid markers, but it is an observational study and does not test treatment or prevention.

Study details

Participants216
Evidence strengthLow

How this study scored 41/100

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 (Psychological Medicine)
Journal's citation record	3 / 4	Psychological Medicine: journal h-index 331 (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	2 / 4	216 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	2 / 6	Cited 2.5× 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 Feng Chen: h-index 23 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	0 / 3	Hainan Medical University: institution h-index 174 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre collaboration	1 / 3	OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country
Indexed in PubMed	2 / 2	Indexed in PubMed (PMID 42411051)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	41 / 100	—

What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →

Read the original

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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.

APA 7th

Chen, H. B., Guo, Y. P., Huang, W., Hu, A., Liu, T., & Chen, F. (2026). Glymphatic dysfunction associates with regional white matter hyperintensities and plasma amyloid-β burden across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum. Psychological Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291726105005

Vancouver

Chen HB, Guo YP, Huang W, Hu A, Liu T, Chen F. Glymphatic dysfunction associates with regional white matter hyperintensities and plasma amyloid-β burden across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum. Psychological Medicine. 2026. doi:10.1017/s0033291726105005. PMID: 42411051.

BibTeX

@article{chen2026-42411051,
  author  = {Chen, H B and Guo, Y P and Huang, Weiyuan and Hu, Anquan and Liu, Tao and Chen, Feng},
  title   = {{Glymphatic dysfunction associates with regional white matter hyperintensities and plasma amyloid-β burden across the Alzheimer’s disease continuum}},
  journal = {Psychological Medicine},
  year    = {2026},
  doi     = {10.1017/s0033291726105005},
  pmid    = {42411051},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291726105005}
}

Studies this one cites

Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.

Related studies in Vascular contributions

Similar studies

More on Vascular contributions

See all studies in Vascular contributions →