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Peripheral GFAP and NfL as early biomarkers for dementia: longitudinal insights from the UK Biobank
Wang X, Shi Z, Qiu Y, Sun D, Zhou H.. BMC medicine, 2024-05-13
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Plain-language summary
Background Peripheral glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neurofilament light chain (NfL) are sensitive markers of neuroinflammation and neuronal damage. Previous studies with highly selected participants have shown that peripheral GFAP and NfL levels are elevated in the pre-clinical phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia. However, the predictive value of GFAP and NfL for dementia requires more evidence from population-based cohorts.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Moderate
This is a follow-up (cohort) study of 48,542 participants. This study evaluated whether plasma GFAP and NfL levels predict dementia in UK Biobank participants. It is observational and does not show that measuring these markers or acting on them prevents dementia.
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
Wang, X., Shi, Z., Qiu, Y., Sun, D., & Zhou, H. (2024). Peripheral GFAP and NfL as early biomarkers for dementia: longitudinal insights from the UK Biobank. BMC medicine. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03418-8
Vancouver
Wang X, Shi Z, Qiu Y, Sun D, Zhou H. Peripheral GFAP and NfL as early biomarkers for dementia: longitudinal insights from the UK Biobank. BMC medicine. 2024. doi:10.1186/s12916-024-03418-8. PMID: 38735950.
BibTeX
@article{wang2024-38735950,
author = {Wang, X. and Shi, Z. and Qiu, Y. and Sun, D. and Zhou, H.},
title = {{Peripheral GFAP and NfL as early biomarkers for dementia: longitudinal insights from the UK Biobank}},
journal = {BMC medicine},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1186/s12916-024-03418-8},
pmid = {38735950},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12916-024-03418-8}
}
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
- Previous studies with highly selected participants have shown that peripheral GFAP and NfL levels are elevated in the pre-clinical phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and dementia.
- However, the predictive value of GFAP and NfL for dementia requires more evidence from population-based cohorts.
- Methods This was a prospective cohort study to evaluate UK Biobank participants enrolled from 2006 to 2010 using plasma GFAP and NfL measurements measured by Olink Target Platform and prospectively followed up for dementia diagnosis.
- Primary outcome was the risk of clinical diagnosed dementia.
Why it matters
This study evaluated whether plasma GFAP and NfL levels predict dementia in UK Biobank participants. It is observational and does not show that measuring these markers or acting on them prevents dementia.
Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants48,542
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 69/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (BMC medicine) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | BMC Medicine: journal h-index 259 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| 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 | 2024 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 4 / 4 | 48,542 participants |
| 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 (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 113 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 28.2 citations a year over 4 year(s) since 2024 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 30.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 10 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 113 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Hongyu Zhou: h-index 22 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Sichuan University: institution h-index 720 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 38735950) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 69 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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