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Persistent Functional Impairment as an Early Indicator of Alzheimer Disease Pathology and Progression
Ghahremani M, Smith EE, Ismail Z.. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 2025-12-15
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background Functional impairment (FI) is a key criterion for diagnosing dementia. However, subtle functional changes may occur during preclinical and prodromal phases but may not be accurately characterized. Furthermore, research linking FI to Alzheimer disease (AD) biofluid biomarkers is limited.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Ghahremani, M., Smith, E. E., & Ismail, Z. (2026). Persistent Functional Impairment as an Early Indicator of Alzheimer Disease Pathology and Progression. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.70247
Vancouver
Ghahremani M, Smith EE, Ismail Z. Persistent Functional Impairment as an Early Indicator of Alzheimer Disease Pathology and Progression. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. 2026. doi:10.1111/jgs.70247. PMID: 41398452.
BibTeX
@article{ghahremani2026-41398452,
author = {Ghahremani, M. and Smith, E. E. and Ismail, Z.},
title = {{Persistent Functional Impairment as an Early Indicator of Alzheimer Disease Pathology and Progression}},
journal = {Journal of the American Geriatrics Society},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1111/jgs.70247},
pmid = {41398452},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jgs.70247}
}
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
- However, subtle functional changes may occur during preclinical and prodromal phases but may not be accurately characterized.
- Furthermore, research linking FI to Alzheimer disease (AD) biofluid biomarkers is limited.
- Here we examined cross-sectional associations between cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers and persistent versus transient FI in dementia-free older adults, and the longitudinal association of FI with incident dementia.
- Methods Data from 1000 participants (age 72.9 ± 7.0; 45.2% female; 62.8% MCI) from the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative were analyzed.
Why it matters
This study examined how persistent versus transient functional impairment relates to CSF Alzheimer's biomarkers and later dementia in dementia-free older adults. It addresses early detection and progression, not treatment, cure or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Study designcross-sectional
- Participants1,000
- Effect size45.2%; 62.8%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 55/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a snapshot of people at one point in time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of the American Geriatrics Society) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of the American Geriatrics Society: journal h-index 344 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 4 / 12 | A snapshot of people at one point in 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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 3 / 4 | 1,000 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 1 / 7 | Cited 4 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.5× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 4 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Zahinoor Ismail: h-index 66 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Calgary: institution h-index 1,028 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 4 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41398452) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 55 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1111/jgs.70247
- PubMed: 41398452
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here.
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