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Neural stem cells improve cognition via BDNF in a transgenic model of Alzheimer disease
Blurton-Jones M, Kitazawa M, Martinez-Coria H, Castello NA, Müller FJ, Loring JF, Yamasaki TR, Poon WW et al.. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2009-07-24
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Neural stem cell (NSC) transplantation represents an unexplored approach for treating neurodegenerative disorders associated with cognitive decline such as Alzheimer disease (AD). Here, we used aged triple transgenic mice (3xTg-AD) that express pathogenic forms of amyloid precursor protein, presenilin, and tau to investigate the effect of neural stem cell transplantation on AD-related neuropathology and cognitive dysfunction. Interestingly, despite widespread and established Ass plaque and neurofibrillary tangle pathology, hippocampal neural stem cell transplantation rescues the spatial learning and memory deficits in aged 3xTg-AD mice.
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APA 7th
Blurton-Jones, M., Kitazawa, M., Martinez-Coria, H., Castello, N. A., Müller, F. J., Loring, J. F., et al. (2009). Neural stem cells improve cognition via BDNF in a transgenic model of Alzheimer disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0901402106
Vancouver
Blurton-Jones M, Kitazawa M, Martinez-Coria H, Castello NA, Müller FJ, Loring JF, et al. Neural stem cells improve cognition via BDNF in a transgenic model of Alzheimer disease. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America. 2009. doi:10.1073/pnas.0901402106. PMID: 19633196.
BibTeX
@article{blurtonjones2009-19633196,
author = {Blurton-Jones, M. and Kitazawa, M. and Martinez-Coria, H. and Castello, N. A. and Müller, F. J. and Loring, J. F. and Yamasaki, T. R. and Poon, W. W. and others},
title = {{Neural stem cells improve cognition via BDNF in a transgenic model of Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America},
year = {2009},
doi = {10.1073/pnas.0901402106},
pmid = {19633196},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0901402106}
}
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Key findings
- Here, we used aged triple transgenic mice (3xTg-AD) that express pathogenic forms of amyloid precursor protein, presenilin, and tau to investigate the effect of neural stem cell transplantation on AD-related neuropathology and cognitive dysfunction.
- Interestingly, despite widespread and established Ass plaque and neurofibrillary tangle pathology, hippocampal neural stem cell transplantation rescues the spatial learning and memory deficits in aged 3xTg-AD mice.
- Remarkably, cognitive function is improved without altering Ass or tau pathology.
- Instead, the mechanism underlying the improved cognition involves a robust enhancement of hippocampal synaptic density, mediated by brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF).
Why it matters
In aged triple transgenic mice with Alzheimer's-like pathology, hippocampal neural stem cell transplantation rescued spatial learning and memory deficits. This was an animal study, so it is not yet known whether neural stem cell transplantation would be effective or safe in people with Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences: journal h-index 1,167 (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 | Laboratory or animal study (title names “transgenic”) — scores zero |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 862 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 45.4 citations a year over 19 year(s) since 2009 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 32.0× 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 | 3 / 4 | Cited 88 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Frank M. LaFerla: h-index 114 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of California, Irvine: institution h-index 1,195 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 19633196) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
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