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Potential for primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease: an analysis of population-based data
Sam Norton, Fiona E. Matthews, Deborah E. Barnes, Kristine S. Yaffe, Carol Brayne. The Lancet Neurology, 2014-07-13
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Researchers analyzed population-based data and relative risks from existing meta-analyses to estimate the population-attributable risk of Alzheimer's disease worldwide, in the USA, Europe, and the UK for seven potentially modifiable risk factors. They accounted for risk-factor non-independence using survey data and assessed the potential impact of risk factor reduction on projections to 2050. The study found that after adjusting for the association between risk factors, around a third of Alzheimer's disease cases worldwide might be attributable to these factors, and incidence might be reduced through targeted interventions.
Why it matters
An analysis of population-based data on how much Alzheimer's disease might be prevented in the first place. Estimates of this kind describe potential, and do not show that acting on any particular risk factor prevents the disease.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Prevention →
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 63/100
Published in a leading specialty 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 | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (The Lancet Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Lancet Neurology: journal h-index 457 (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 | 2014 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| 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 | 7 / 7 | Cited 2,454 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 175.3 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 121.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 5 / 6 | Cited by 152 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 465 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Carol Brayne: h-index 159 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Cambridge: institution h-index 1,973 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 25030513) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 63 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(14)70136-x
- PubMed: 25030513
- Original source →
- Free full text: Research Portal (King's College London) →
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. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Norton, S., Matthews, F. E., Barnes, D. E., Yaffe, K. S., & Brayne, C. (2014). Potential for primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease: an analysis of population-based data. The Lancet Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(14)70136-x
Vancouver
Norton S, Matthews FE, Barnes DE, Yaffe KS, Brayne C. Potential for primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease: an analysis of population-based data. The Lancet Neurology. 2014. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(14)70136-x. PMID: 25030513.
BibTeX
@article{norton2014-25030513,
author = {Norton, Sam and Matthews, Fiona E. and Barnes, Deborah E. and Yaffe, Kristine S. and Brayne, Carol},
title = {{Potential for primary prevention of Alzheimer's disease: an analysis of population-based data}},
journal = {The Lancet Neurology},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1016/s1474-4422(14)70136-x},
pmid = {25030513},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(14)70136-x}
}
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