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Limited Diagnostic Performance of Cerebrospinal Fluid Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Dementia
Pontus Erickson, Tobias Borgh Skillbäck, Silke Kern, I. Skoog, Linus Jönsson, Ulf Andréasson, Kaj Blennow, Maria Eriksdotter et al.. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders, 2026-01-20
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
A total of 1,345 individuals were included. In Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and Lewy body dementia, GFAP levels were similar (p > 0.05). Lower levels were observed in PDD compared to early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EAD), late-onset AD (LAD), and vascular dementia (VaD) (all p 0.05). CSF GFAP did not exhibit clinically relevant diagnostic or prognostic value in dementia. Further studies are needed to clarify its role in PDD.
Key findings
- A total of 1,345 individuals were included.
- In Parkinson's disease dementia (PDD) and Lewy body dementia, GFAP levels were similar (p > 0.05).
- Lower levels were observed in PDD compared to early-onset Alzheimer's disease (EAD), late-onset AD (LAD), and vascular dementia (VaD) (all p 0.05).
- CSF GFAP did not exhibit clinically relevant diagnostic or prognostic value in dementia.
- Further studies are needed to clarify its role in PDD.
Why it matters
In this study of 1,345 people, cerebrospinal fluid GFAP did not show clinically relevant diagnostic or prognostic value in dementia. Further studies are needed to clarify its role in Parkinson's disease dementia.
Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants1,345
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 58/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders: journal h-index 149 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| 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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,345 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 2 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.5× 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 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Henrik Zetterberg: h-index 196 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 15 institution(s) in 5 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41557565) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 58 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1159/000550601
- PubMed: 41557565
- Original source →
- Free full text: Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders →
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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Erickson, P., Skillbäck, T. B., Kern, S., Skoog, I., Jönsson, L., Andréasson, U., et al. (2026). Limited Diagnostic Performance of Cerebrospinal Fluid Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Dementia. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. https://doi.org/10.1159/000550601
Vancouver
Erickson P, Skillbäck TB, Kern S, Skoog I, Jönsson L, Andréasson U, et al. Limited Diagnostic Performance of Cerebrospinal Fluid Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Dementia. Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders. 2026. doi:10.1159/000550601. PMID: 41557565.
BibTeX
@article{erickson2026-41557565,
author = {Erickson, Pontus and Skillbäck, Tobias Borgh and Kern, Silke and Skoog, I. and Jönsson, Linus and Andréasson, Ulf and Blennow, Kaj and Eriksdotter, Maria and others},
title = {{Limited Diagnostic Performance of Cerebrospinal Fluid Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein in Dementia}},
journal = {Dementia and Geriatric Cognitive Disorders},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1159/000550601},
pmid = {41557565},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1159/000550601}
}
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