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Glymphatic dysfunction links vascular pathology to Alzheimer's biomarkers and cognitive decline
Kang SH, Kim S, Kim YJ, Yoo H, Lee EH, Jang H, Shin D, Yun J et al.. Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2026-01-29
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
We performed linear regression analysis to identify factors associated with the DTI-ALPS index. Results First, the DTI-ALPS index was negatively associated with both CAA (β [95% CI] = -0.163 [-0.214, -0.112], p < 0.0001) and CSVD (β [95% CI] = -0.195 [-0.247, -0.143], p < 0.0001) summary scores after controlling for age, sex, BMI status, and APOE genotype. Finally, the DTI-ALPS index was significantly associated with cognitive decline and this association was partially mediated by plasma biomarkers. Conclusions These findings highlight glymphatic dysfunction as a key mechanism linking vascular pathology with tau, inflammation and neurodegeneration, independent of Aβ uptakes.
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APA 7th
Kang, S. H., Kim, S., Kim, Y. J., Yoo, H., Lee, E. H., Jang, H., et al. (2026). Glymphatic dysfunction links vascular pathology to Alzheimer's biomarkers and cognitive decline. Alzheimer's research & therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-026-01964-2
Vancouver
Kang SH, Kim S, Kim YJ, Yoo H, Lee EH, Jang H, et al. Glymphatic dysfunction links vascular pathology to Alzheimer's biomarkers and cognitive decline. Alzheimer's research & therapy. 2026. doi:10.1186/s13195-026-01964-2. PMID: 41612483.
BibTeX
@article{kang2026-41612483,
author = {Kang, S. H. and Kim, S. and Kim, Y. J. and Yoo, H. and Lee, E. H. and Jang, H. and Shin, D. and Yun, J. and others},
title = {{Glymphatic dysfunction links vascular pathology to Alzheimer's biomarkers and cognitive decline}},
journal = {Alzheimer's research \& therapy},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1186/s13195-026-01964-2},
pmid = {41612483},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-026-01964-2}
}
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Key findings
- We performed linear regression analysis to identify factors associated with the DTI-ALPS index.
- Results First, the DTI-ALPS index was negatively associated with both CAA (β [95% CI] = -0.163 [-0.214, -0.112], p < 0.0001) and CSVD (β [95% CI] = -0.195 [-0.247, -0.143], p < 0.0001) summary scores after controlling for age, sex, BMI status, and APOE genotype.
- Finally, the DTI-ALPS index was significantly associated with cognitive decline and this association was partially mediated by plasma biomarkers.
- Conclusions These findings highlight glymphatic dysfunction as a key mechanism linking vascular pathology with tau, inflammation and neurodegeneration, independent of Aβ uptakes.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants1,249
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 72/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record and multi-centre collaboration, so those were left out: it earned 42 of the 58 points we could judge it on, which is 72 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer's research & therapy) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same people over 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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,249 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 | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41612483) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 42 / 58 | Scored on 11 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 42 of the 58 points we could judge it on is 72 out of 100. |
| Total | 72 / 100 | — |
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