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Neuroinflammation in dementia: A meta-analysis of PET imaging studies
Pan J, Hu J, Meng D, Chen L, Wei X.. Medicine, 2024-05-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Plain-language summary
Background Dementia is a major public health challenge for aging societies worldwide. Neuroinflammation is thought to be a key factor in dementia development. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess translocator protein (TSPO) expression by positron emission tomography (PET) imaging to reveal the characteristics of neuroinflammation in dementia. Methods We used a meta-analysis to retrieve literature on TSPO expression in dementia using PET imaging technology, including but not limited to the quality of the study design, sample size, and the type of TSPO ligand used in the study. For the included studies, we extracted key data, including TSPO expression levels, clinical characteristics of the study participants, and specific information on brain regions. Meta-analysis was performed using R software to assess the relationship between TSPO expression and dementia. Results After screening, 12 studies that met the criteria were included. The results of the meta-analysis showed that the expression level of TSPO was significantly elevated in patients with dementia, especially in the hippocampal region. The OR in the hippocampus was 1.50 with a 95% CI of 1.09 to 1.25, indicating a significant increase in the expression of TSPO in this region compared to controls. Elevated levels of inflammation in the prefrontal lobe and cingulate gyrus are associated with cognitive impairment in patients. This was despite an OR of 1.00 in the anterior cingulate gyrus, indicating that TSPO expression in this region did not correlate significantly with the findings. The overall heterogeneity test showed I² = 51%, indicating moderate heterogeneity. Conclusion This study summarizes the existing literature on TSPO expression in specific regions of the brain in patients with dementia, and also provides some preliminary evidence on the possible association between neuroinflammation and dementia. However, the heterogeneity of results and limitations of the study suggest that we need to interpret these findings with caution. Future studies need to adopt a more rigorous and consistent methodological design to more accurately assess the role of neuroinflammation in dementia, thereby providing a more reliable evidence base for understanding pathological mechanisms and developing potential therapeutic strategies.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: High
This is a pooled review. Combining 12 PET imaging studies, this meta-analysis found that TSPO, a marker of brain inflammation, was significantly raised in people with dementia, especially in the hippocampus, a memory center. Higher inflammation in the prefrontal lobe and cingulate gyrus was associated with cognitive impairment.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Pan, J., Hu, J., Meng, D., Chen, L., & Wei, X. (2024). Neuroinflammation in dementia: A meta-analysis of PET imaging studies. Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000038086
Vancouver
Pan J, Hu J, Meng D, Chen L, Wei X. Neuroinflammation in dementia: A meta-analysis of PET imaging studies. Medicine. 2024. doi:10.1097/md.0000000000038086. PMID: 38701247.
BibTeX
@article{pan2024-38701247,
author = {Pan, J. and Hu, J. and Meng, D. and Chen, L. and Wei, X.},
title = {{Neuroinflammation in dementia: A meta-analysis of PET imaging studies}},
journal = {Medicine},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1097/md.0000000000038086},
pmid = {38701247},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1097/md.0000000000038086}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Results After screening, 12 studies that met the criteria were included.
- The results of the meta-analysis showed that the expression level of TSPO was significantly elevated in patients with dementia, especially in the hippocampal region.
- The OR in the hippocampus was 1.50 with a 95% CI of 1.09 to 1.25, indicating a significant increase in the expression of TSPO in this region compared to controls.
- Elevated levels of inflammation in the prefrontal lobe and cingulate gyrus are associated with cognitive impairment in patients.
- This was despite an OR of 1.00 in the anterior cingulate gyrus, indicating that TSPO expression in this region did not correlate significantly with the findings.
Why it matters
Combining 12 PET imaging studies, this meta-analysis found that TSPO, a marker of brain inflammation, was significantly raised in people with dementia, especially in the hippocampus, a memory center. Higher inflammation in the prefrontal lobe and cingulate gyrus was associated with cognitive impairment. The authors call this preliminary evidence of a link between brain inflammation and dementia and urge caution because of differences between studies.
Study details
- Study designmeta-analysis
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 52/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a meta-analysis pooling many studies. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 50 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 52 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Medicine: journal h-index 285 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A meta-analysis pooling many studies |
| 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 | 2024 — 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) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | A review of other studies — randomization is not credited here |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 10 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.5 citations a year over 4 year(s) since 2024 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.9× 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 10 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Xianling Wei holds only 3 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Jiaxing University: institution h-index 154 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 38701247) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 50 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 50 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 52 out of 100. |
| Total | 52 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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