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Head trauma as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease: a collaborative re-analysis of case-control studies. EURODEM Risk Factors Research Group
Mortimer JA, van Duijn CM, Chandra V, Fratiglioni L, Graves AB, Heyman A, Jorm AF, Kokmen E et al.. International journal of epidemiology, 1991-01-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
A re-analysis of the data from 11 case-control studies was performed to investigate the association between head trauma and Alzheimer's disease (AD). To increase comparability of studies, exposures were limited to head trauma with loss of consciousness (hereafter referred to as 'head trauma') and comparisons were restricted to community (versus hospital) controls. Test for heterogeneity across studies was negative; consequently, data were pooled in subsequent analyses. The pooled relative risk for head trauma was 1.82 (95% confidence interval: 1.26-2.67). Stratified analyses showed stronger associations in cases without a positive family history of dementia and in males (versus females). Adjustment of the pooled relative risk for family history of dementia, education and alcohol consumption did not alter significantly the association between head trauma and AD. There was no interaction effect between head trauma and family history of dementia, suggesting that these risk factors operate independently. Mean age of onset was not significantly different in cases with a history of head trauma compared to cases without such a history. The findings of the pooled analysis support an association between reported head trauma and AD.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Mortimer, J. A., van Duijn, C. M., Chandra, V., Fratiglioni, L., Graves, A. B., Heyman, A., et al. (1991). Head trauma as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease: a collaborative re-analysis of case-control studies. EURODEM Risk Factors Research Group. International journal of epidemiology. https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/20.supplement_2.s28
Vancouver
Mortimer JA, van Duijn CM, Chandra V, Fratiglioni L, Graves AB, Heyman A, et al. Head trauma as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease: a collaborative re-analysis of case-control studies. EURODEM Risk Factors Research Group. International journal of epidemiology. 1991. doi:10.1093/ije/20.supplement_2.s28. PMID: 1833351.
BibTeX
@article{mortimer1991-1833351,
author = {Mortimer, J. A. and van Duijn, C. M. and Chandra, V. and Fratiglioni, L. and Graves, A. B. and Heyman, A. and Jorm, A. F. and Kokmen, E. and others},
title = {{Head trauma as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease: a collaborative re-analysis of case-control studies. EURODEM Risk Factors Research Group}},
journal = {International journal of epidemiology},
year = {1991},
doi = {10.1093/ije/20.supplement_2.s28},
pmid = {1833351},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/ije/20.supplement_2.s28}
}
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.
Key findings
- To increase comparability of studies, exposures were limited to head trauma with loss of consciousness (hereafter referred to as 'head trauma') and comparisons were restricted to community (versus hospital) controls.
- Stratified analyses showed stronger associations in cases without a positive family history of dementia and in males (versus females).
- Adjustment of the pooled relative risk for family history of dementia, education and alcohol consumption did not alter significantly the association between head trauma and AD.
- There was no interaction effect between head trauma and family history of dementia, suggesting that these risk factors operate independently.
- Mean age of onset was not significantly different in cases with a history of head trauma compared to cases without such a history.
Why it matters
This pooled re-analysis of 11 case-control studies found a relative risk of 1.82 for head trauma with loss of consciousness and Alzheimer's disease. It supports an association between reported head trauma and Alzheimer's disease but does not show that preventing head trauma cures or prevents the disease.
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Study details
- Study designcase-control study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 55/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a case-control study. Scored zero for 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 (International journal of epidemiology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | International Journal of Epidemiology: journal h-index 328 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 6 / 12 | A case-control study |
| 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 | 1991 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 593 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 16.0 citations a year over 37 year(s) since 1991 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 11.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 30 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 23 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Hilkka Soininen: h-index 21 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Erasmus University Rotterdam: institution h-index 837 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 1833351) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 55 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1093/ije/20.supplement_2.s28
- PubMed: 1833351
- Original source →
- Free full text: RePub (Erasmus University Rotterdam) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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