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Modifiable risk factors and symptom progression in dementia over up to 8 years—Results of the DelpHi‐MV trial
Iris Blotenberg, Felix Wittström, Bernhard Michalowsky, Moritz Platen, Diana Wucherer, Stefan Johannes Teipel, Wolfgang U. Hoffmann, Jochen René Thyrian. Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring, 2025-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Higher education was associated with higher initial cognitive status but faster decline. Antidiabetic medication was associated with slower cognitive decline, whereas depression and visual impairment were linked to low baseline functioning and faster cognitive decline. Several modifiable risk factors influenced symptom progression. Education initially had a protective effect, whereas depressive symptoms were linked to worse symptom progression. Treatment of comorbidities (diabetes, visual impairment) could have a positive impact on dementia symptoms. Modifiable risk factors are promising targets for tertiary prevention. Highlights: Modifiable risk factors were associated with symptom progression in dementia over up to 8 years.More education was associated with higher initial cognitive status but faster decline.Depressive symptoms were linked to less favorable symptom progression.Treatment of comorbidities (diabetes, visual impairment) may positively impact the course of symptoms.Modifiable risk factors are promising targets for tertiary prevention.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Blotenberg, I., Wittström, F., Michalowsky, B., Platen, M., Wucherer, D., Teipel, S. J., et al. (2025). Modifiable risk factors and symptom progression in dementia over up to 8 years—Results of the DelpHi‐MV trial. Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring. https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.70050
Vancouver
Blotenberg I, Wittström F, Michalowsky B, Platen M, Wucherer D, Teipel SJ, et al. Modifiable risk factors and symptom progression in dementia over up to 8 years—Results of the DelpHi‐MV trial. Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring. 2025. doi:10.1002/dad2.70050. PMID: 39811699.
BibTeX
@article{blotenberg2025-39811699,
author = {Blotenberg, Iris and Wittström, Felix and Michalowsky, Bernhard and Platen, Moritz and Wucherer, Diana and Teipel, Stefan Johannes and Hoffmann, Wolfgang U. and Thyrian, Jochen René},
title = {{Modifiable risk factors and symptom progression in dementia over up to 8 years—Results of the DelpHi‐MV trial}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia Diagnosis Assessment \& Disease Monitoring},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/dad2.70050},
pmid = {39811699},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/dad2.70050}
}
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 names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Higher education was associated with higher initial cognitive status but faster decline.
- Antidiabetic medication was associated with slower cognitive decline, whereas depression and visual impairment were linked to low baseline functioning and faster cognitive decline.
- Several modifiable risk factors influenced symptom progression.
- Education initially had a protective effect, whereas depressive symptoms were linked to worse symptom progression.
- Treatment of comorbidities (diabetes, visual impairment) could have a positive impact on dementia symptoms.
Why it matters
Over up to 8 years, this study found that higher education was linked to better initial thinking skills but faster decline, while antidiabetic medication was linked to slower decline and depression or vision problems to faster decline. Treating conditions like diabetes and vision impairment may help slow dementia symptoms, supporting the idea that modifiable factors can affect disease progression.
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Study details
- Participants353
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 40/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring: journal h-index 86 (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 | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 353 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 | 0 / 5 | 0.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.3× 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 | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Jochen René Thyrian: h-index 40 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Karolinska Institutet: institution h-index 1,477 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39811699) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 40 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1002/dad2.70050
- PubMed: 39811699
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s & Dementia Diagnosis Assessment & Disease Monitoring →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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