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Impact of hippocampal α‐synuclein oligomers on cognitive trajectory in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies
Hiroaki Sekiya, Lukas Franke, Daisuke Ono, Michael A. Deture, Owen A. Ross, Melissa Erin Murray, Pamela J. McLean, Tanis J. Ferman et al.. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-08-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
DLB with rapid cognitive decline showed greater CA1 αSYN oligomer burden (p = 0.029) and tau burden (p = 0.029) than DLB with slow decline. The groups showed comparable burden of Lewy-related pathology and amyloid-β pathology in the hippocampal formation and entorhinal cortex. Hippocampal accumulation of αSYN oligomers and phosphorylated tau is associated with rapid cognitive decline in DLB. Therapeutic strategies targeting αSYN oligomers warrant further investigation. HIGHLIGHTS: Proximity ligation assay (PLA) and digital pathology for oligomer quantification. Abundant α-synuclein (αSYN) oligomers in CA1 of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) with rapid decline. First human brain study linking αSYN oligomers to cognitive trajectory. Potential therapeutic implications of targeting αSYN oligomers in DLB.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Sekiya, H., Franke, L., Ono, D., Deture, M. A., Ross, O. A., Murray, M. E., et al. (2025). Impact of hippocampal α‐synuclein oligomers on cognitive trajectory in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70374
Vancouver
Sekiya H, Franke L, Ono D, Deture MA, Ross OA, Murray ME, et al. Impact of hippocampal α‐synuclein oligomers on cognitive trajectory in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70374. PMID: 40755115.
BibTeX
@article{sekiya2025-40755115,
author = {Sekiya, Hiroaki and Franke, Lukas and Ono, Daisuke and Deture, Michael A. and Ross, Owen A. and Murray, Melissa Erin and McLean, Pamela J. and Ferman, Tanis J. and others},
title = {{Impact of hippocampal α‐synuclein oligomers on cognitive trajectory in patients with dementia with Lewy bodies}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70374},
pmid = {40755115},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70374}
}
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Key findings
- DLB with rapid cognitive decline showed greater CA1 αSYN oligomer burden (p = 0.029) and tau burden (p = 0.029) than DLB with slow decline.
- The groups showed comparable burden of Lewy-related pathology and amyloid-β pathology in the hippocampal formation and entorhinal cortex.
- Hippocampal accumulation of αSYN oligomers and phosphorylated tau is associated with rapid cognitive decline in DLB.
- Therapeutic strategies targeting αSYN oligomers warrant further investigation.
- HIGHLIGHTS: Proximity ligation assay (PLA) and digital pathology for oligomer quantification.
Why it matters
This human brain study found that hippocampal accumulation of α-synuclein oligomers and phosphorylated tau is associated with rapid cognitive decline in dementia with Lewy bodies, and suggests that therapeutic strategies targeting α-synuclein oligomers warrant further investigation. It does not test any treatment, so it does not show a cure or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 43/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 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) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 6 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Dennis W. Dickson: h-index 218 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Mayo Clinic: institution h-index 1,606 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40755115) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 43 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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