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Neuroimaging of Diseases Causing Dementia
Masdeu JC.. Neurologic clinics, 2019-11-07
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Neuroimaging provides a window on the biological events underlying dementia. Amyloid PET is positive in Alzheimer disease (AD) and some cases of diffuse Lewy body disease, but negative in the frontotemporal dementias (FTDs). Tau PET using the current tracers shows the greatest signal in AD and a lesser signal in FTD. Quantifying volume loss with MRI and measuring metabolism with fluorodeoxyglucose PET helps separate different causes of dementia and follow their progression. Brain inflammation can be assessed with PET. Some of these techniques, still investigational, are likely to find their clinical niche in the near future.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Masdeu, J. C. (2020). Neuroimaging of Diseases Causing Dementia. Neurologic clinics. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncl.2019.08.003
Vancouver
Masdeu JC. Neuroimaging of Diseases Causing Dementia. Neurologic clinics. 2020. doi:10.1016/j.ncl.2019.08.003. PMID: 31761062.
BibTeX
@article{masdeu2020-31761062,
author = {Masdeu, J. C.},
title = {{Neuroimaging of Diseases Causing Dementia}},
journal = {Neurologic clinics},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.1016/j.ncl.2019.08.003},
pmid = {31761062},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncl.2019.08.003}
}
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Key findings
- Amyloid PET is positive in Alzheimer disease (AD) and some cases of diffuse Lewy body disease, but negative in the frontotemporal dementias (FTDs).
- Tau PET using the current tracers shows the greatest signal in AD and a lesser signal in FTD.
- Quantifying volume loss with MRI and measuring metabolism with fluorodeoxyglucose PET helps separate different causes of dementia and follow their progression.
- Brain inflammation can be assessed with PET.
- Some of these techniques, still investigational, are likely to find their clinical niche in the near future.
Why it matters
This review describes how amyloid PET, tau PET, MRI, FDG PET and inflammation PET can help distinguish causes of dementia and track progression. It notes some techniques are still investigational and does not report any treatment, cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 37/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurologic clinics) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Neurologic Clinics: journal h-index 132 (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 | 2 / 5 | 2020 — within 10 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 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 15 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.9 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Joseph C. Masdeu: h-index 54 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Cornell University: institution h-index 1,649 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 31761062) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 37 / 100 | — |
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