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Plasma amyloid beta protein 1-42 levels are increased in old Down Syndrome but not in young Down Syndrome
Mehta PD, Mehta SP, Fedor B, Patrick BA, Emmerling M, Dalton AJ.. Neuroscience letters, 2003-05-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Plasma amyloid beta protein 1-40 (Abeta40) and Abeta42 levels were quantitated from 28 young Down syndrome (DS) (20-40 years old), 28 age-matched controls, 32 old DS (41-65 years old) and 32 age-matched controls in a sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Abeta40 levels were higher in young DS and old DS than controls. Abeta42 levels in young DS and controls were similar, however Abeta42 levels were higher in old DS than controls or young DS. The higher Abeta42 levels in old DS suggests that Abeta42 is selectively increased in plasma concurrently with the development of Alzheimer disease neuropathology.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Mehta, P. D., Mehta, S. P., Fedor, B., Patrick, B. A., Emmerling, M., & Dalton, A. J. (2003). Plasma amyloid beta protein 1-42 levels are increased in old Down Syndrome but not in young Down Syndrome. Neuroscience letters. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00275-1
Vancouver
Mehta PD, Mehta SP, Fedor B, Patrick BA, Emmerling M, Dalton AJ. Plasma amyloid beta protein 1-42 levels are increased in old Down Syndrome but not in young Down Syndrome. Neuroscience letters. 2003. doi:10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00275-1. PMID: 12757888.
BibTeX
@article{mehta2003-12757888,
author = {Mehta, P. D. and Mehta, S. P. and Fedor, B. and Patrick, B. A. and Emmerling, M. and Dalton, A. J.},
title = {{Plasma amyloid beta protein 1-42 levels are increased in old Down Syndrome but not in young Down Syndrome}},
journal = {Neuroscience letters},
year = {2003},
doi = {10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00275-1},
pmid = {12757888},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0304-3940(03)00275-1}
}
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
- The higher Abeta42 levels in old DS suggests that Abeta42 is selectively increased in plasma concurrently with the development of Alzheimer disease neuropathology.
Why it matters
This study found that plasma amyloid beta 42 levels are higher in older people with Down syndrome than in controls or younger people with Down syndrome. It suggests this increase happens alongside Alzheimer disease neuropathology, but it does not show that measuring or lowering this protein treats or prevents the disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 36/100
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 (Neuroscience letters) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neuroscience Letters: journal h-index 267 (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 | 2003 — 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) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 48 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.9 citations a year over 25 year(s) since 2003 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.0× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Arthur J. Dalton: h-index 29 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Pfizer (United States): institution h-index 832 (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 12757888) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 36 / 100 | — |
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