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Inositol monophosphatase activity in normal, Down syndrome and dementia of the Alzheimer type CSF
Atack JR, Schapiro MB.. Neurobiology of aging, 2002-05-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Inositol monophosphatase (IMPase), a cytoplasmic enzyme that hydrolyses inositol monophosphates to produce inositol is also found in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Since levels of inositol have been previously reported to be elevated in Down syndrome (DS) CSF, IMPase activity was measured in CSF of DS subjects to establish whether altered inositol levels may be related to changes in IMPase activity. In addition, and to better understand the regulation of IMPase expression in the CSF, enzyme activity was measured in normal aging, patients with Alzheimer-type or multi-infarct dementia (DAT and MID, respectively) and in CSF obtained by repeat lumbar puncture or from sequential aliquots of CSF from along the rostro-caudal axis. IMPase activity was relatively constant in CSF obtained from repeated lumbar puncture and there was no significant rostro-caudal gradient of activity in either normal or DS subjects, indicating that the enzyme originates from both brain and spinal cord. Compared to respective age-matched normal subjects, CSF IMPase activity was unaltered in DS, DAT and MID. However, in normal volunteers there was a significant positive correlation between age and CSF IMPase activity. Furthermore, there were significant correlations between CSF IMPase activity and acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities and total protein, suggesting co-regulation of these parameters within the CSF.
Key findings
- IMPase activity was relatively constant in CSF obtained from repeated lumbar puncture and there was no significant rostro-caudal gradient of activity in either normal or DS subjects, indicating that the enzyme originates from both brain and spinal cord.
- Compared to respective age-matched normal subjects, CSF IMPase activity was unaltered in DS, DAT and MID.
- However, in normal volunteers there was a significant positive correlation between age and CSF IMPase activity.
- Furthermore, there were significant correlations between CSF IMPase activity and acetylcholinesterase and butyrylcholinesterase activities and total protein, suggesting co-regulation of these parameters within the CSF.
Why it matters
Inositol monophosphatase activity in cerebrospinal fluid was unchanged in Down syndrome, Alzheimer-type dementia and multi-infarct dementia compared with age-matched normal subjects. The study found no evidence that altered inositol levels in these conditions are explained by changes in this enzyme's activity, and it tests no treatment.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 31/100
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 | 2002 — 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 | 2 / 7 | Cited 5 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.2 citations a year over 26 year(s) since 2002 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.0× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author John R. Atack: h-index 64 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | MSD (UK) Limited (United Kingdom): institution h-index 256 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 11959401) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 31 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Atack, JR., & Schapiro, M. B. (2002). Inositol monophosphatase activity in normal, Down syndrome and dementia of the Alzheimer type CSF. Neurobiology of aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0197-4580(01)00335-9
Vancouver
Atack JR, Schapiro MB. Inositol monophosphatase activity in normal, Down syndrome and dementia of the Alzheimer type CSF. Neurobiology of aging. 2002. doi:10.1016/s0197-4580(01)00335-9. PMID: 11959401.
BibTeX
@article{atack2002-11959401,
author = {Atack, JR. and Schapiro, M. B.},
title = {{Inositol monophosphatase activity in normal, Down syndrome and dementia of the Alzheimer type CSF}},
journal = {Neurobiology of aging},
year = {2002},
doi = {10.1016/s0197-4580(01)00335-9},
pmid = {11959401},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0197-4580(01)00335-9}
}
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