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Plasma placental growth factor as a biomarker for subcortical ischemic vascular dementia and its cognitive correlation mediated by white matter hyperintensities
Ping Che, Siqi Wang, Xiaojiao Liu, Yunyao Lu, Zhuo Tian, Qixin Feng, Feifan Chen, Nan Zhang. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-07-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
The plasma PlGF level was significantly elevated in patients with SIVD compared with CUCs, and showed a high accuracy with an area under the curve of 0.893. Mediation analysis revealed that white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) volume mediated the effect of plasma PlGF levels on cognitive functions in a transdiagnostic cohort. The plasma PlGF is a potential biomarker for screening and diagnosing SIVD, and its correlation with cognitive function may be partly mediated by the WMHs. HIGHLIGHTS: Plasma placental growth factor (PlGF) showed high diagnostic value for subcortical ischemic vascular dementia. Plasma PlGF showed significantly negative correlation with cognition. White matter hyperintensities mediated the relationship between plasma PlGF and cognition.
Key findings
- The plasma PlGF level was significantly elevated in patients with SIVD compared with CUCs, and showed a high accuracy with an area under the curve of 0.893.
- Mediation analysis revealed that white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) volume mediated the effect of plasma PlGF levels on cognitive functions in a transdiagnostic cohort.
- The plasma PlGF is a potential biomarker for screening and diagnosing SIVD, and its correlation with cognitive function may be partly mediated by the WMHs.
- HIGHLIGHTS: Plasma placental growth factor (PlGF) showed high diagnostic value for subcortical ischemic vascular dementia.
- Plasma PlGF showed significantly negative correlation with cognition.
Why it matters
Plasma placental growth factor was higher in people with subcortical ischemic vascular dementia and was linked to worse cognition, partly through white matter hyperintensity volume. This is a potential diagnostic biomarker, not a treatment, and the study does not show that targeting it changes disease course.
Study details
- Participants102
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 46/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 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 | 2 / 4 | 102 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) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 7 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 4.4× 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 7 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Nan Zhang: h-index 63 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Tianjin Medical University: institution h-index 402 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40622016) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 46 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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 names 8 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.
APA 7th
Che, P., Wang, S., Liu, X., Lu, Y., Tian, Z., Feng, Q., et al. (2025). Plasma placental growth factor as a biomarker for subcortical ischemic vascular dementia and its cognitive correlation mediated by white matter hyperintensities. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70461
Vancouver
Che P, Wang S, Liu X, Lu Y, Tian Z, Feng Q, et al. Plasma placental growth factor as a biomarker for subcortical ischemic vascular dementia and its cognitive correlation mediated by white matter hyperintensities. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70461. PMID: 40622016.
BibTeX
@article{che2025-40622016,
author = {Che, Ping and Wang, Siqi and Liu, Xiaojiao and Lu, Yunyao and Tian, Zhuo and Feng, Qixin and Chen, Feifan and Zhang, Nan},
title = {{Plasma placental growth factor as a biomarker for subcortical ischemic vascular dementia and its cognitive correlation mediated by white matter hyperintensities}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70461},
pmid = {40622016},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70461}
}
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