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Human induced pluripotent stem cell models for Alzheimer's disease research: a bibliometric analysis
Sun Y, Liu Z, Zhang Z, Kang Y, Wang X, Zhang Y, Liu Y, Zhao P.. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 2025-03-19
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Introduction Alzheimer's disease (AD), the leading cause of dementia, remains without adequate treatment. Current models do not fully replicate human physiology and pathology. The advent of human induced pluripotent stem cell (hiPSC) technology offers a novel approach to studying AD. Methods Our study conducted a bibliometric analysis to assess the application and development of hiPSC technology in AD research. We retrieved 531 articles on hiPSC models of AD from the Web of Science Core Collection, published between January 2010 and June 2024. CiteSpace and VOSviewer were used to analyze authorship, geographic contributions, journal influence, and citation patterns. Results Our findings reveal a steady increase in publications over 14 years, with the United States leading in contributions, followed by China. Li-Huei Tsai from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a prominent researcher. PLoS One emerges as the most influential journal. Research trends have focused on inflammation, astrocytes, microglia, apolipoprotein E (ApoE), and tau. Discussion Bibliometric analysis is crucial in identifying research gaps and trends and guiding future studies to address unmet needs in understanding and modeling human physiology and pathology. Leveraging hiPSC models to investigate the molecular mechanisms of familial and sporadic AD is expected to provide a crucial foundation for developing future treatment strategies. Conclusion In summary, the bibliometric findings from this study provide a comprehensive overview of the current research landscape in hiPSC models for AD. It also highlights emerging trends and research gaps, crucial for guiding future research efforts, particularly in exploring novel therapeutic targets and improving understanding of disease mechanisms.
Key findings
- Results Our findings reveal a steady increase in publications over 14 years, with the United States leading in contributions, followed by China.
Why it matters
This analysis of 531 articles tracks how research using human stem cell-derived brain cells (hiPSC models) to study Alzheimer's has grown since 2010, led by the United States and then China. Recent work has focused on inflammation, astrocytes, microglia, ApoE and tau. It maps research activity rather than testing treatments, but the authors argue these human cell models can build a foundation for future therapies.
Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Frontiers in human neuroscience) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Frontiers in Human Neuroscience: journal h-index 221 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| 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 | 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 3 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.6× 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 3 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 1 / 4 | Last-listed author Pei Zhao: h-index 19 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Lanzhou University: institution h-index 524 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40177166) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2025.1548701
- PubMed: 40177166
- Original source →
- Free full text: Frontiers in Human Neuroscience →
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. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Sun, Y., Liu, Z., Zhang, Z., Kang, Y., Wang, X., Zhang, Y., et al. (2025). Human induced pluripotent stem cell models for Alzheimer's disease research: a bibliometric analysis. Frontiers in human neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1548701
Vancouver
Sun Y, Liu Z, Zhang Z, Kang Y, Wang X, Zhang Y, et al. Human induced pluripotent stem cell models for Alzheimer's disease research: a bibliometric analysis. Frontiers in human neuroscience. 2025. doi:10.3389/fnhum.2025.1548701. PMID: 40177166.
BibTeX
@article{sun2025-40177166,
author = {Sun, Y. and Liu, Z. and Zhang, Z. and Kang, Y. and Wang, X. and Zhang, Y. and Liu, Y. and Zhao, P.},
title = {{Human induced pluripotent stem cell models for Alzheimer's disease research: a bibliometric analysis}},
journal = {Frontiers in human neuroscience},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.3389/fnhum.2025.1548701},
pmid = {40177166},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fnhum.2025.1548701}
}
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