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Microvasculature changes and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in Alzheimer's disease and their potential impact on therapy
Weller RO, Boche D, Nicoll JA.. Acta neuropathologica, 2009-02-22
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
The introduction of immunotherapy and its ultimate success will require re-evaluation of the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease particularly with regard to the role of the ageing microvasculature and the effects of APOE genotype. Arteries in the brain have two major functions (a) delivery of blood and (b) elimination of interstitial fluid and solutes, including amyloid-beta (Abeta), along perivascular pathways (lymphatic drainage). Both these functions fail with age and particularly severely in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Weller, R. O., Boche, D., & Nicoll, J. A. (2009). Microvasculature changes and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in Alzheimer's disease and their potential impact on therapy. Acta neuropathologica. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-009-0498-z
Vancouver
Weller RO, Boche D, Nicoll JA. Microvasculature changes and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in Alzheimer's disease and their potential impact on therapy. Acta neuropathologica. 2009. doi:10.1007/s00401-009-0498-z. PMID: 19234858.
BibTeX
@article{weller2009-19234858,
author = {Weller, R. O. and Boche, D. and Nicoll, J. A.},
title = {{Microvasculature changes and cerebral amyloid angiopathy in Alzheimer's disease and their potential impact on therapy}},
journal = {Acta neuropathologica},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1007/s00401-009-0498-z},
pmid = {19234858},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s00401-009-0498-z}
}
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Key findings
- Arteries in the brain have two major functions (a) delivery of blood and (b) elimination of interstitial fluid and solutes, including amyloid-beta (Abeta), along perivascular pathways (lymphatic drainage).
- Both these functions fail with age and particularly severely in Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia.
- Accumulation of Abeta as plaques in brain parenchyma and artery walls as cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) is associated with failure of perivascular elimination of Abeta from the brain in the elderly and in Alzheimer's disease.
- High levels of soluble Abeta in the brain correlate with cognitive decline in Alzheimer's disease and reflect the failure of perivascular drainage of solutes from the brain and loss of homeostasis of the neuronal environment.
Why it matters
This review discusses how ageing brain arteries and cerebral amyloid angiopathy affect the removal of amyloid beta along perivascular pathways, and notes that immunotherapy success will require re-evaluating this. It is a discussion of disease mechanisms and their potential impact on therapy, not a tested treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 48/100
Published in a leading specialty 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 | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Acta neuropathologica) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Acta Neuropathologica: journal h-index 287 (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 | 2009 — within 20 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 297 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 15.6 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 17 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 28 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author James A. R. Nicoll: h-index 72 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Southampton: institution h-index 938 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19234858) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
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