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Pathological changes in the nucleus of Meynert in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases
Candy JM, Perry RH, Perry EK, Irving D, Blessed G, Fairbairn AF, Tomlinson BE.. Journal of the neurological sciences, 1983-05-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Combined neuropathological and neurochemical assessment of the nucleus of Meynert in senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT) have demonstrated that the cholinergic biochemical activity, choline acetyltransferase, is more extensively reduced in the nucleus (over 90%) than the loss of putative cholinergic perikarya (35%). Acetylcholinesterase histochemical activity was however substantially retained in individual neurones in the nucleus although virtually absent from the neocortex in SDAT. These abnormalities are consistent with a primary degeneration of cholinergic axons projecting to the cortex and secondary loss of perikarya from the subcortical nucleus. In contrast, preliminary observations on cases of Parkinson's disease suggest that the neuronal loss from the nucleus of Meynert may be greater in this disease than in SDAT, and previous studies have not consistently demonstrated a reduction in cortical choline acetyltransferase activities in Parkinson's disease. These observations, together with major differences in the neuropathology of the nucleus in SDAT and Parkinson's disease (neurofibrillary tangle and Lewy body formation, respectively) suggest that the involvement of the cholinergic system may differ in the two disease processes.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Candy, J. M., Perry, R. H., Perry, E. K., Irving, D., Blessed, G., Fairbairn, A. F., et al. (1983). Pathological changes in the nucleus of Meynert in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Journal of the neurological sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-510x(83)90045-x
Vancouver
Candy JM, Perry RH, Perry EK, Irving D, Blessed G, Fairbairn AF, et al. Pathological changes in the nucleus of Meynert in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Journal of the neurological sciences. 1983. doi:10.1016/0022-510x(83)90045-x. PMID: 6854353.
BibTeX
@article{candy1983-6854353,
author = {Candy, J. M. and Perry, R. H. and Perry, E. K. and Irving, D. and Blessed, G. and Fairbairn, A. F. and Tomlinson, B. E.},
title = {{Pathological changes in the nucleus of Meynert in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases}},
journal = {Journal of the neurological sciences},
year = {1983},
doi = {10.1016/0022-510x(83)90045-x},
pmid = {6854353},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/0022-510x(83)90045-x}
}
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 7 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
- Combined neuropathological and neurochemical assessment of the nucleus of Meynert in senile dementia of Alzheimer type (SDAT) have demonstrated that the cholinergic biochemical activity, choline acetyltransferase, is more extensively reduced in the nucleus (over 90%) than the loss of putative cholinergic perikarya (35%).
- In contrast, preliminary observations on cases of Parkinson's disease suggest that the neuronal loss from the nucleus of Meynert may be greater in this disease than in SDAT, and previous studies have not consistently demonstrated a reduction in cortical choline acetyltransferase activities in Parkinson's disease.
- These observations, together with major differences in the neuropathology of the nucleus in SDAT and Parkinson's disease (neurofibrillary tangle and Lewy body formation, respectively) suggest that the involvement of the cholinergic system may differ in the two disease processes.
Why it matters
In brain tissue from people with senile dementia of Alzheimer type, cholinergic biochemical activity was reduced more than the loss of cholinergic cells, suggesting degeneration of cholinergic axons to the cortex. This is a descriptive pathology study and reports no treatment, cure or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of the neurological sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of the Neurological Sciences: journal h-index 233 (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 | 1983 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 460 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.2 citations a year over 45 year(s) since 1983 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 37.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 7 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 24 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author B.E. Tomlinson: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust: institution h-index 364 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 6854353) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/0022-510x(83)90045-x
- PubMed: 6854353
- Original source →
- Free full text: Newcastle University ePrints (Newcastle Univesity) →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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