Home › Research › Tau biomarkers
Preclinical AD predicts decline in memory and executive functions in subjective complaints
van Harten AC, Smits LL, Teunissen CE, Visser PJ, Koene T, Blankenstein MA, Scheltens P, van der Flier WM.. Neurology, 2013-09-18
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Objective We assessed whether preclinical Alzheimer disease (AD) based on CSF biomarkers at baseline predicts decline in cognitive functioning as measured by repeated neuropsychological tests for 4 cognitive domains in patients with subjective complaints. Methods We included 132 patients with subjective complaints from our memory clinic-based Amsterdam Dementia Cohort, who underwent lumbar puncture and had repeated (range 2-7) neuropsychological evaluations. CSF biomarkers amyloid-β (Aβ42), total tau (Tau), and hyperphosphorylated tau-181 were used to define National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) preclinical AD stages.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
van Harten, A. C., Smits, L. L., Teunissen, C. E., Visser, P. J., Koene, T., Blankenstein, M. A., et al. (2013). Preclinical AD predicts decline in memory and executive functions in subjective complaints. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182a8418b
Vancouver
van Harten AC, Smits LL, Teunissen CE, Visser PJ, Koene T, Blankenstein MA, et al. Preclinical AD predicts decline in memory and executive functions in subjective complaints. Neurology. 2013. doi:10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182a8418b. PMID: 24049134.
BibTeX
@article{vanharten2013-24049134,
author = {van Harten, A. C. and Smits, L. L. and Teunissen, C. E. and Visser, P. J. and Koene, T. and Blankenstein, M. A. and Scheltens, P. and van der Flier, W. M.},
title = {{Preclinical AD predicts decline in memory and executive functions in subjective complaints}},
journal = {Neurology},
year = {2013},
doi = {10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182a8418b},
pmid = {24049134},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1212/wnl.0b013e3182a8418b}
}
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.
Key findings
- Methods We included 132 patients with subjective complaints from our memory clinic-based Amsterdam Dementia Cohort, who underwent lumbar puncture and had repeated (range 2-7) neuropsychological evaluations.
- CSF biomarkers amyloid-β (Aβ42), total tau (Tau), and hyperphosphorylated tau-181 were used to define National Institute on Aging-Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) preclinical AD stages.
- Predictive value of preclinical AD stages as defined by CSF biomarkers, individual biomarkers, and Aβ42/tau ratio was assessed using linear mixed models.
- Outcome measures were compound z scores for memory, attention, executive functioning, language, and global cognition.
Why it matters
This study assessed whether preclinical Alzheimer disease defined by cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers at baseline predicts later decline in memory and executive functions in patients with subjective complaints. It is a prediction study and does not test any treatment, cure, or prevention.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Blood tests & biomarkers →
Study details
- Participants132
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Neurology: journal h-index 525 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2013 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 132 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 143 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 9.5 citations a year over 15 year(s) since 2013 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 15 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 19 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Wiesje M. van der Flier: h-index 132 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Maastricht University: institution h-index 876 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 24049134) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 57 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
May need a subscription OpenAlex found no free copy of the full text (checked 6 Feb 1020), so the publisher may charge for it. The PubMed abstract is free.
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 19.
Later studies that cite this one
15 studies in the alzhub library list this one in their references. Showing the 8 highest-scoring.
Related studies in Tau biomarkers
Also tagged “controlled”
1,118 studies in the library carry the topic tag “controlled”; these are this study's neighbours in a fixed, alphabetical-by-hash tour of them, not the closest in content. All 1,118 tagged studies.