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Immune reactive cells in senile plaques and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease
Vehmas AK, Kawas CH, Stewart WF, Troncoso JC.. Neurobiology of aging, 2003-03-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
We examined the associations of postmortem neocortical immunoreactivities for microglia, astrocytes, Abeta and Tau with cognitive changes in clinically characterized subjects with pathological diagnoses (CERAD classification) of definite AD (9), possible AD (15) and age-matched controls (11). By measuring the fractional area (FA) of immunoreactivity, we found that Abeta deposits appear early in the pathogenesis of Abeta, but cannot account for cognitive decline. We found a significant increases in FA for microglia in possible AD cases (nondemented) compared to controls (P<0.05) and in FA for astrocytes in definite AD (demented) compared to possible AD (P<0.01).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Vehmas, A. K., Kawas, C. H., Stewart, W. F., & Troncoso, J. C. (2003). Immune reactive cells in senile plaques and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0197-4580(02)00090-8
Vancouver
Vehmas AK, Kawas CH, Stewart WF, Troncoso JC. Immune reactive cells in senile plaques and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiology of aging. 2003. doi:10.1016/s0197-4580(02)00090-8. PMID: 12498966.
BibTeX
@article{vehmas2003-12498966,
author = {Vehmas, A. K. and Kawas, C. H. and Stewart, W. F. and Troncoso, J. C.},
title = {{Immune reactive cells in senile plaques and cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Neurobiology of aging},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1016/s0197-4580(02)00090-8},
pmid = {12498966},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0197-4580(02)00090-8}
}
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.
Key findings
- By measuring the fractional area (FA) of immunoreactivity, we found that Abeta deposits appear early in the pathogenesis of Abeta, but cannot account for cognitive decline.
- We found a significant increases in FA for microglia in possible AD cases (nondemented) compared to controls (P<0.05) and in FA for astrocytes in definite AD (demented) compared to possible AD (P<0.01).
- Tau immunoreactivity was observed only in the neuropil of definite AD cases (P<0.001).
- The significant increase in microglia between controls and AD possible cases suggests that activation of microglia occurs in the early pathogenesis of AD, whereas the significant association between astrocytic reaction and dementia, suggests that these cells play a role in the late stage of the disease, when dementia develops.
Why it matters
This study examined postmortem brain tissue from people with definite Alzheimer's disease, possible Alzheimer's disease and controls, finding that amyloid deposits appear early but cannot account for cognitive decline, while microglia and astrocyte immunoreactivity increased in different groups. It is a tissue study describing associations and does not test any treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, 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 (Neurobiology of aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neurobiology of Aging: journal h-index 263 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2003 — 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 230 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.2 citations a year over 25 year(s) since 2003 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 5.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 9 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 9 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Juan Carlos Troncoso: h-index 119 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 12498966) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/s0197-4580(02)00090-8
- PubMed: 12498966
- Original source →
- Free full text: Neurobiology of Aging →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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