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Microglial activation in early Alzheimer trajectory is associated with higher gray matter volume
Femminella GD, Dani M, Wood M, Fan Z, Calsolaro V, Atkinson R, Edginton T, Hinz R et al.. Neurology, 2019-02-22
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Objective To investigate the influence of microglial activation in the early stages of Alzheimer's disease trajectory, we assessed the relationship between microglial activation and gray matter volume and hippocampal volume in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Methods In this study, 55 participants (37 with early stages of MCI and 18 controls) underwent [ 11 C]PBR28 PET, a marker of microglial activation; volumetric MRI to evaluate gray matter and hippocampal volumes as well as clinical and neuropsychometric evaluation. [ 11 C]PBR28 V T (volume of distribution) was calculated using arterial input function and Logan graphical analysis. Gray matter volume and hippocampal volumes were calculated from MRI for each participant. Statistical parametric mapping software was used to perform voxel-wise correlations and biological parametric mapping analysis. Amyloid status was assessed using [ 18 F]flutemetamol PET. Results Higher [ 11 C]PBR28 V T in different cortical areas correlated with higher gray matter volume in both amyloid-positive and -negative MCI. In addition, higher hippocampal volume correlated with higher cortical [ 11 C]PBR28 Logan V T . Conclusions In this in vivo study, we have demonstrated that microglial activation quantified using [ 11 C]PBR28 PET was associated with higher gray matter volume and higher hippocampal volume in patients with MCI. This might suggest that microglial activation may not always be associated with neuronal damage, and indeed it may have a beneficial effect in the early stages of the Alzheimer trajectory. While further longitudinal studies are necessary, these findings have significant implications on therapeutic strategies targeting microglial activation.
Key findings
- Results Higher [ 11 C]PBR28 V T in different cortical areas correlated with higher gray matter volume in both amyloid-positive and -negative MCI.
- Conclusions In this in vivo study, we have demonstrated that microglial activation quantified using [ 11 C]PBR28 PET was associated with higher gray matter volume and higher hippocampal volume in patients with MCI.
- This might suggest that microglial activation may not always be associated with neuronal damage, and indeed it may have a beneficial effect in the early stages of the Alzheimer trajectory.
- While further longitudinal studies are necessary, these findings have significant implications on therapeutic strategies targeting microglial activation.
Why it matters
In patients with mild cognitive impairment, higher microglial activation measured by PET correlated with higher gray matter volume and higher hippocampal volume in both amyloid-positive and amyloid-negative cases. This suggests microglial activation may not always be associated with neuronal damage and may have a beneficial effect.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants55
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 65/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (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 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 55 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 107 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 11.9 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| 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 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 43 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Paul Edison: h-index 53 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Imperial College London: institution h-index 1,744 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30796139) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 65 / 100 | — |
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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. 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
Femminella, G. D., Dani, M., Wood, M., Fan, Z., Calsolaro, V., Atkinson, R., et al. (2019). Microglial activation in early Alzheimer trajectory is associated with higher gray matter volume. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000007133
Vancouver
Femminella GD, Dani M, Wood M, Fan Z, Calsolaro V, Atkinson R, et al. Microglial activation in early Alzheimer trajectory is associated with higher gray matter volume. Neurology. 2019. doi:10.1212/wnl.0000000000007133. PMID: 30796139.
BibTeX
@article{femminella2019-30796139,
author = {Femminella, G. D. and Dani, M. and Wood, M. and Fan, Z. and Calsolaro, V. and Atkinson, R. and Edginton, T. and Hinz, R. and others},
title = {{Microglial activation in early Alzheimer trajectory is associated with higher gray matter volume}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0000000000007133},
pmid = {30796139},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0000000000007133}
}
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