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Neurobiological correlates of Mild Behavioral Impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Remelli F, Barbieri MG, Ferrighi E, Triolo F, Grande G, Vetrano DL, Trevisan C, Volpato S.. Alzheimer's research & therapy, 2025-10-21
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Although individuals with Mild Behavioral Impairment (MBI) show an increased rate of developing dementia, it remains uncertain whether MBI should be considered a risk factor or an actual early sign of neurocognitive disease. Objectives This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore the association between MBI and neurobiological correlates of dementia. Methods The study protocol followed PRISMA guidelines and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42024589059). Five databases and gray literature were systematically searched from inception to January 31, 2025 to identify studies that explored the relationship between MBI and brain imaging findings or neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory fluid biomarker levels. When studies employed comparable methodologies, a random-effects meta-analysis was performed to summarize the results; conversely, a qualitative synthesis was conducted. The Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale was used to assess the study quality. Results Of the 834 records, 27 studies were included. Most studies were cross-sectional and examined the presence of structural or functional abnormalities through brain imaging in individuals with MBI. Six studies, 4 of which were longitudinal, focused on MBI and cerebrospinal fluid or plasma biomarkers of neurodegeneration and neuroinflammation. Due to the high methodological heterogeneity across studies, five random-effects meta-analyses were conducted, each including two studies. These analyses reported a positive, cross-sectional correlation between MBI burden and brain deposition of amyloid-beta (Aβ) or tau. Conversely, MBI was not significantly associated with either plasma phosphorylated-tau181 levels or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain atrophy markers. Nevertheless, based on the qualitative synthesis of the 27 included studies, MBI was frequently linked to Alzheimer's disease (AD) abnormalities - both in biomarkers and brain imaging studies. Conclusions Across studies, MBI appears to be linked to specific neurobiological markers of AD, including Aβ and tau brain deposition, as well as alterations in the mesolimbic pathway and neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory fluid biomarker levels. Although emerging evidence supports MBI as a potential early clinical sign of AD, heterogeneity across studies precludes definitive conclusions regarding its precise role in the onset and progression of the disease.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Remelli, F., Barbieri, M. G., Ferrighi, E., Triolo, F., Grande, G., Vetrano, D. L., et al. (2025). Neurobiological correlates of Mild Behavioral Impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Alzheimer's research & therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-025-01874-9
Vancouver
Remelli F, Barbieri MG, Ferrighi E, Triolo F, Grande G, Vetrano DL, et al. Neurobiological correlates of Mild Behavioral Impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Alzheimer's research & therapy. 2025. doi:10.1186/s13195-025-01874-9. PMID: 41121344.
BibTeX
@article{remelli2025-41121344,
author = {Remelli, F. and Barbieri, M. G. and Ferrighi, E. and Triolo, F. and Grande, G. and Vetrano, D. L. and Trevisan, C. and Volpato, S.},
title = {{Neurobiological correlates of Mild Behavioral Impairment: a systematic review and meta-analysis}},
journal = {Alzheimer's research \& therapy},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s13195-025-01874-9},
pmid = {41121344},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-025-01874-9}
}
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
- When studies employed comparable methodologies, a random-effects meta-analysis was performed to summarize the results; conversely, a qualitative synthesis was conducted.
- Results Of the 834 records, 27 studies were included.
- Conversely, MBI was not significantly associated with either plasma phosphorylated-tau181 levels or Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) brain atrophy markers.
Why it matters
People with Mild Behavioral Impairment (MBI) develop dementia at a higher rate, and this review asked whether MBI reflects underlying brain disease. Across 27 studies, MBI was linked to amyloid-beta and tau buildup in the brain, but not to plasma phosphorylated-tau181 or MRI measures of brain shrinkage. The authors say the evidence supports it as a possible early sign of Alzheimer's, but differences between studies prevent firm conclusions.
Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer's research & therapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer s Research & Therapy: journal h-index 146 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” 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 | 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) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| 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 | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.5× 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 | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Stefano Volpato: h-index 78 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Karolinska Institutet: institution h-index 1,477 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41121344) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s13195-025-01874-9
- PubMed: 41121344
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s Research & Therapy →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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