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Neuropathological changes and amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease treated with aducanumab versus untreated: a retrospective case-control study
Boon BDC, Piura YD, Moloney CM, Chalk JL, Lincoln SJ, Rutledge MH, Rothberg DM, Kouri N et al.. The Lancet. Neurology, 2025-11-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background Understanding the neuropathological effects of amyloid β (Aβ)-targeting therapies and amyloid-related imaging abnormalities (ARIA) in Alzheimer's disease is critical for optimising treatment efficacy and patient outcomes. Comparing Aβ PET imaging with neuropathological assessments provides context for evaluating the extent of Aβ clearance and interpreting in-vivo biomarkers. We aimed to assess clinicopathological changes and ARIA-related effects in aducanumab-treated versus untreated Alzheimer's disease.
Key findings
- Comparing Aβ PET imaging with neuropathological assessments provides context for evaluating the extent of Aβ clearance and interpreting in-vivo biomarkers.
- We aimed to assess clinicopathological changes and ARIA-related effects in aducanumab-treated versus untreated Alzheimer's disease.
- Methods This retrospective case-control study included five aducanumab-treated participants from clinical trials conducted at the Mayo Clinic (2016-21) who underwent autopsy (2020-23).
- Treated participants were matched by autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease mutation or APOE genotype, age at cognitive symptom onset, and sex to 12 untreated participants from the Mayo Clinic Alzheimer's Disease Research Center and Mayo Clinic Study of Aging cohorts in the Mayo Clinic brain bank (Jacksonville, FL, USA).
Why it matters
This retrospective case-control study compared clinicopathological changes and amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in five aducanumab-treated participants versus untreated Alzheimer's disease, using autopsy and Aβ PET imaging. It examines the neuropathological effects of treatment in a very small sample rather than showing a cure or prevention.
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Study details
- Study designcase-control study
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 67/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a large phase 3 trial. Scored zero for sample size and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (The Lancet. Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Lancet Neurology: journal h-index 457 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A large phase 3 trial (from PubMed type “Clinical Trial, Phase III”) |
| Strength of evidence | 3 / 5 | Rated “moderate” 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 | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (pubmed indexes it as a clinical or observational study) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 29 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 15.9× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 3 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 29 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Melissa Erin Murray: h-index 93 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Mayo Clinic: institution h-index 1,606 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41109234) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 67 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(25)00313-8
- PubMed: 41109234
- Original source →
- Free full text: The Lancet Neurology →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Boon, B. D. C., Piura, Y. D., Moloney, C. M., Chalk, J. L., Lincoln, S. J., Rutledge, M. H., et al. (2025). Neuropathological changes and amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease treated with aducanumab versus untreated: a retrospective case-control study. The Lancet. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(25)00313-8
Vancouver
Boon BDC, Piura YD, Moloney CM, Chalk JL, Lincoln SJ, Rutledge MH, et al. Neuropathological changes and amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease treated with aducanumab versus untreated: a retrospective case-control study. The Lancet. Neurology. 2025. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(25)00313-8. PMID: 41109234.
BibTeX
@article{boon2025-41109234,
author = {Boon, B. D. C. and Piura, Y. D. and Moloney, C. M. and Chalk, J. L. and Lincoln, S. J. and Rutledge, M. H. and Rothberg, D. M. and Kouri, N. and others},
title = {{Neuropathological changes and amyloid-related imaging abnormalities in Alzheimer's disease treated with aducanumab versus untreated: a retrospective case-control study}},
journal = {The Lancet. Neurology},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/s1474-4422(25)00313-8},
pmid = {41109234},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(25)00313-8}
}
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