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47/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 47 out of 100. Down syndrome and Alzheimer's

Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models

People with Down syndrome (DS) are at high risk for developing Alzheimer disease (AD). Neuropathology consistent with AD is present by 40 years of age and dementia may develop up to a decade later. In this review, we describe metabolic and vascular neuroimaging studies in DS that suggest these functional changes are a key feature of aging, linked to cognitive decline and AD in this vulnerable cohort. FDG-PET imaging in DS suggests systematic reductions in glucose metabolism in posterior cingulate and parietotemporal cortex. Magentic resonance spectroscopy studies show consistent decreases in neuronal health and increased myoinositol, suggesting inflammation. There are few vascular imaging studies in DS suggesting a gap in our knowledge. Future studies would benefit from longitudinal measures and combining various imaging approaches to identify early signs of dementia in DS that may be amenable to intervention.

Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris

APA 7th

Head, E., Powell, D. K., & Schmitt, F. A. (2018). Metabolic and Vascular Imaging Biomarkers in Down Syndrome Provide Unique Insights Into Brain Aging and Alzheimer Disease Pathogenesis. Frontiers in aging neuroscience. https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2018.00191

Vancouver

Head E, Powell DK, Schmitt FA. Metabolic and Vascular Imaging Biomarkers in Down Syndrome Provide Unique Insights Into Brain Aging and Alzheimer Disease Pathogenesis. Frontiers in aging neuroscience. 2018. doi:10.3389/fnagi.2018.00191. PMID: 29977201.

BibTeX

@article{head2018-29977201,
  author  = {Head, E. and Powell, D. K. and Schmitt, F. A.},
  title   = {{Metabolic and Vascular Imaging Biomarkers in Down Syndrome Provide Unique Insights Into Brain Aging and Alzheimer Disease Pathogenesis}},
  journal = {Frontiers in aging neuroscience},
  year    = {2018},
  doi     = {10.3389/fnagi.2018.00191},
  pmid    = {29977201},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.3389/fnagi.2018.00191}
}

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Key findings

In this review, we describe metabolic and vascular neuroimaging studies in DS that suggest these functional changes are a key feature of aging, linked to cognitive decline and AD in this vulnerable cohort.
FDG-PET imaging in DS suggests systematic reductions in glucose metabolism in posterior cingulate and parietotemporal cortex.
Magentic resonance spectroscopy studies show consistent decreases in neuronal health and increased myoinositol, suggesting inflammation.
There are few vascular imaging studies in DS suggesting a gap in our knowledge.
Future studies would benefit from longitudinal measures and combining various imaging approaches to identify early signs of dementia in DS that may be amenable to intervention.

Why it matters

This review describes metabolic and vascular imaging findings in Down syndrome, including reductions in glucose metabolism and signs of inflammation, that appear linked to cognitive decline and Alzheimer's disease. The authors note a gap in vascular imaging knowledge and suggest future longitudinal studies, but no treatment, cure, or prevention is tested.

Study details

Study designlongitudinal study
Evidence strengthModerate

How this study scored 47/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for 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 (Frontiers in aging neuroscience)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience: journal h-index 174 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	7 / 12	A longitudinal study following the same 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	2 / 5	2018 — within 10 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	3 / 7	Cited 20 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	1 / 5	2.0 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018
Impact for its field and year	2 / 6	Cited 2.4× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI)
Cited by studies here	2 / 6	Cited by 3 other studies in this library
Still being cited	0 / 4	Cited 2 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	3 / 4	Last-listed author Frederick A. Schmitt: h-index 83 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	University of Kentucky: institution h-index 824 (OpenAlex)
Multicenter 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 29977201)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	47 / 100	—

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