Home › Research › Mild cognitive impairment
Preventing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: insights from pre-symptomatic neurodegenerative diseases
Benatar M, Wuu J, McHutchison C, Postuma RB, Boeve BF, Petersen R, Ross CA, Rosen H et al.. Brain : a journal of neurology, 2022-03-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Significant progress has been made in understanding the pre-symptomatic phase of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Clinically manifest amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may emerge abruptly, especially among those who harbour genetic mutations associated with rapidly progressive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. The use of non-genetic biomarkers, however, presents challenges related to counselling, informed consent, communication of results and limited protections afforded by existing legislation.
Key findings
- Significant progress has been made in understanding the pre-symptomatic phase of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- Clinically manifest amyotrophic lateral sclerosis may emerge abruptly, especially among those who harbour genetic mutations associated with rapidly progressive amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
- The use of non-genetic biomarkers, however, presents challenges related to counselling, informed consent, communication of results and limited protections afforded by existing legislation.
Why it matters
This paper reviews lessons from the pre-symptomatic phase of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, not Alzheimer's disease, and notes challenges with using non-genetic biomarkers such as counselling and consent. It offers no findings on treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 54/100
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 (Brain : a journal of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Brain: journal h-index 503 (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 | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 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 | 5 / 7 | Cited 120 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 20.0 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 7.8× 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 | 3 / 4 | Cited 79 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Joanne Wuu: h-index 65 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Johns Hopkins University: institution h-index 2,306 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 24 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 34677606) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 54 / 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's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Benatar, M., Wuu, J., McHutchison, C., Postuma, R. B., Boeve, B. F., Petersen, R., et al. (2022). Preventing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: insights from pre-symptomatic neurodegenerative diseases. Brain : a journal of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab404
Vancouver
Benatar M, Wuu J, McHutchison C, Postuma RB, Boeve BF, Petersen R, et al. Preventing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: insights from pre-symptomatic neurodegenerative diseases. Brain : a journal of neurology. 2022. doi:10.1093/brain/awab404. PMID: 34677606.
BibTeX
@article{benatar2022-34677606,
author = {Benatar, M. and Wuu, J. and McHutchison, C. and Postuma, R. B. and Boeve, B. F. and Petersen, R. and Ross, C. A. and Rosen, H. and others},
title = {{Preventing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: insights from pre-symptomatic neurodegenerative diseases}},
journal = {Brain : a journal of neurology},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.1093/brain/awab404},
pmid = {34677606},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awab404}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 29.