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41/100

✓ Peer-reviewed alzhub usefulness score 41 out of 100. Risk factors

Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis

Higher ADI was significantly associated with increased CRP (r=0.469, p = 0.002) and TREM-1 (r=0.316, p = 0.047). Both CRP and TREM-1 were positively correlated with PWV (r=0.334, p = 0.043; r=0.420, p = 0.0097). Higher levels of inflammation were associated with increased t-tau (CRP: r=0.379, p = 0.016; TREM-1: r=0.478, p = 0.002) and p-tau217 (CRP: r=0.590, p <0.001). Black participants had higher ADI scores (p <0.05) but paradoxically lower p-tau217 levels (p = 0.032) compared to white participants. These preliminary findings suggest that neighborhood disadvantage may contribute to AD risk through systemic inflammation and vascular dysfunction, leading to increased tau pathology. However, the observed racial differences in p-tau217, with Black participants showing lower levels despite higher ADI scores and AD risk, align with prior studies. This raises questions about differences in tau processing, clearance, or non-tau pathways of neurodegeneration. Future research should examine whether inflammation-driven vascular dysfunction contributes disproportionately to cognitive decline in Black populations. Longitudinal studies are needed to assess whether interventions targeting inflammation and vascular health could mitigate AD risk and whether tau biomarkers accurately capture AD pathology across diverse populations. Understanding these mechanisms is crucial for ensuring equity in AD diagnosis and treatment.

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APA 7th

Butts, B., Swatson, E., Watson, J., Park, C. M., Verble, D. D., Likos, K. D. S., et al. (2025). Neighborhood disadvantage, systemic inflammation, and tau pathology: a link between social determinants of health and Alzheimer's disease risk. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70856_105926

Vancouver

Butts B, Swatson E, Watson J, Park CM, Verble DD, Likos KDS, et al. Neighborhood disadvantage, systemic inflammation, and tau pathology: a link between social determinants of health and Alzheimer's disease risk. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz70856_105926. PMID: 41520181.

BibTeX

@article{butts2025-41520181,
  author  = {Butts, Brittany and Swatson, Enid and Watson, Jordan and Park, Chloe M. and Verble, Danielle D. and Likos, Kelly D. S. and Herring, Christopher H and Kamara, Julia and others},
  title   = {{Neighborhood disadvantage, systemic inflammation, and tau pathology: a link between social determinants of health and Alzheimer's disease risk}},
  journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
  year    = {2025},
  doi     = {10.1002/alz70856_105926},
  pmid    = {41520181},
  url     = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz70856_105926}
}

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Key findings

Higher ADI was significantly associated with increased CRP (r=0.469, p = 0.002) and TREM-1 (r=0.316, p = 0.047).
Both CRP and TREM-1 were positively correlated with PWV (r=0.334, p = 0.043; r=0.420, p = 0.0097).
Higher levels of inflammation were associated with increased t-tau (CRP: r=0.379, p = 0.016; TREM-1: r=0.478, p = 0.002) and p-tau217 (CRP: r=0.590, p <0.001).
Black participants had higher ADI scores (p <0.05) but paradoxically lower p-tau217 levels (p = 0.032) compared to white participants.
These preliminary findings suggest that neighborhood disadvantage may contribute to AD risk through systemic inflammation and vascular dysfunction, leading to increased tau pathology.

Why it matters

In this cross-sectional study, greater neighborhood disadvantage was linked to higher inflammation markers, which in turn were linked to higher tau markers. The authors call these preliminary findings and note that Black participants had higher disadvantage scores but lower p-tau217 levels, raising questions about how well tau biomarkers capture Alzheimer's pathology across populations.

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Study details

Study designcross-sectional
Participants40
Evidence strengthModerate

How this study scored 41/100

Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in 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 (Alzheimer s & Dementia)
Journal's citation record	2 / 4	Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29)
Study design	4 / 12	A snapshot of people at one point in 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	4 / 5	2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here
Sample size	1 / 4	40 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	0 / 7	Cited 0 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10)
Citations per year	0 / 5	0.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025
Impact for its field and year	0 / 6	Cited 0.0× 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 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex)
Senior author's track record	2 / 4	Last-listed author Whitney Wharton: h-index 31 (OpenAlex, whole career)
Institution's track record	1 / 3	Emory University: institution h-index 1,360 (OpenAlex)
Multi-centre 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 41520181)
Free to read	2 / 2	Free to read
Total	41 / 100	—

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