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Platelet activation in Alzheimer disease
Sevush S, Jy W, Horstman LL, Mao WW, Kolodny L, Ahn YS.. Archives of neurology, 1998-04-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background In light of recent reports of diminished platelet serotonin concentration and increased plasma serotonin levels in patients with Alzheimer disease (AD), we hypothesized that a state of heightened platelet activation might be present in AD. Objective To compare baseline activation of unstimulated platelets in patients with AD with that in control subjects. Patients and methods Flow cytometry was used to measure platelet activation in 91 patients with probable AD and 40 age-matched control subjects.
Key findings
- Objective To compare baseline activation of unstimulated platelets in patients with AD with that in control subjects.
- Patients and methods Flow cytometry was used to measure platelet activation in 91 patients with probable AD and 40 age-matched control subjects.
- Groups were compared for percentage of circulating platelet aggregates, expression of CD62p, formation of leukocyte-platelet complexes, and presence of circulating platelet microparticles, controlling for effects of demographic, clinical, physiological, and logistical factors.
- Results Multiple analysis of covariance on ranked data revealed a 39.5% increase in percentage of platelet aggregates (P=.0001), a 59.3% increase in expression of CD62p (P=.001), and a 53.3% increase in leukocyte-platelet complexes (P=.0001) in the group with AD but no differences in the number of platelet microparticles, overall platelet count, plasma fibrinogen level, or plasma platelet factor 3.
Why it matters
In 91 people with probable Alzheimer's and 40 age-matched controls, blood from the Alzheimer's group showed more signs of activated platelets: 39.5% more platelet clumps, 59.3% more of the activation marker CD62p, and 53.3% more white-cell–platelet complexes. Routine measures such as platelet count and fibrinogen did not differ. This is a single snapshot comparison that suggests a possible blood marker; it does not show cause, test any treatment, or give a test usable for individuals.
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Study details
- Participants91
- Effect size39.5%; 59.3%; 53.3%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Archives of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Archives of Neurology: journal h-index 353 (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 | 1998 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 91 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 185 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 6.2 citations a year over 30 year(s) since 1998 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.6× 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 18 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Yeon Soong Ahn: h-index 50 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of Miami: institution h-index 998 (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 9561982) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
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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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Sevush, S., Jy, W., Horstman, L. L., Mao, W. W., Kolodny, L., & Ahn, Y. S. (1998). Platelet activation in Alzheimer disease. Archives of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.55.4.530
Vancouver
Sevush S, Jy W, Horstman LL, Mao WW, Kolodny L, Ahn YS. Platelet activation in Alzheimer disease. Archives of neurology. 1998. doi:10.1001/archneur.55.4.530. PMID: 9561982.
BibTeX
@article{sevush1998-9561982,
author = {Sevush, S. and Jy, W. and Horstman, L. L. and Mao, W. W. and Kolodny, L. and Ahn, Y. S.},
title = {{Platelet activation in Alzheimer disease}},
journal = {Archives of neurology},
year = {1998},
doi = {10.1001/archneur.55.4.530},
pmid = {9561982},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/archneur.55.4.530}
}
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