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Neuropathologic alterations in mild cognitive impairment: a review
Markesbery WR.. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 2010-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), the earliest clinically detectable phase of the trajectory toward dementia and Alzheimer's disease (AD), led to the need for even earlier detection and prevention of AD. Although it is a clinical diagnosis, its underlying neuropathological findings are just being defined. MCI is best studied in longitudinally followed patients in centers that are experienced in dementing disorders. In this review of the few major clinical-pathological reports of longitudinally followed patients, it appears that most autopsied amnestic MCI (aMCI) patients are on a pathway toward AD. Neurofibrillary pathology in entorhinal cortex, hippocampus, and amygdala--not amyloid plaques--is the major substrate for aMCI and for memory decline. In addition, many MCI patients have other concomitant pathological alterations, the most common of which are strokes, but also include argyrophilic grains and Lewy bodies. These findings are not surprising because most MCI autopsied cases have been in the older (80 to 90 year) range where these findings are common. In early AD, the phase following MCI, the significant change is an increase in neurofibrillary tangles in the neocortex that correlates with an increase in Braak score and the observed clinical progression.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Markesbery, W. R. (2010). Neuropathologic alterations in mild cognitive impairment: a review. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-2010-1220
Vancouver
Markesbery WR. Neuropathologic alterations in mild cognitive impairment: a review. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 2010. doi:10.3233/jad-2010-1220. PMID: 20061641.
BibTeX
@article{markesbery2010-20061641,
author = {Markesbery, W. R.},
title = {{Neuropathologic alterations in mild cognitive impairment: a review}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.3233/jad-2010-1220},
pmid = {20061641},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-2010-1220}
}
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Key findings
- These findings are not surprising because most MCI autopsied cases have been in the older (80 to 90 year) range where these findings are common.
- In early AD, the phase following MCI, the significant change is an increase in neurofibrillary tangles in the neocortex that correlates with an increase in Braak score and the observed clinical progression.
Why it matters
This review of autopsy findings reports that most people with amnestic mild cognitive impairment appear to be on a path toward Alzheimer's disease, with neurofibrillary pathology in certain brain regions rather than amyloid plaques as the main basis for memory decline. It is a review of brain tissue findings and does not test any treatment.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
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 (Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 218 (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 | 2010 — 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 | 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 236 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.1 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 12 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 26 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author William R. Markesbery: h-index 124 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Kentucky: institution h-index 824 (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 20061641) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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