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Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the risk for dementia: the Framingham Heart Study
Weinstein G, Beiser AS, Choi SH, Preis SR, Chen TC, Vorgas D, Au R, Pikula A et al.. JAMA neurology, 2014-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Some prior studies showed lower circulating BDNF in persons with Alzheimer disease (AD) compared with control participants; however, it remains uncertain whether reduced levels precede dementia onset. Results During follow-up, 140 participants developed dementia, 117 of whom had AD. Controlling for age and sex, each standard-deviation increment in BDNF was associated with a 33% lower risk for dementia and AD (P = .006 and P = .01, respectively) and these associations persisted after additional adjustments. Compared with the bottom quintile, BDNF levels in the top quintile were associated with less than half the risk for dementia and AD (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.28-0.85; P = .01; and hazard ratio, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.24-0.86; P = .02, respectively). Brain-derived neurotrophic factor genetic variants were not associated with AD risk. Our findings suggest a role for BDNF in the biology and possibly in the prevention of dementia and AD, especially in select subgroups of women and older and more highly educated persons.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Weinstein, G., Beiser, A. S., Choi, S. H., Preis, SR., Chen, T. C., Vorgas, D., et al. (2014). Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the risk for dementia: the Framingham Heart Study. JAMA neurology. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.4781
Vancouver
Weinstein G, Beiser AS, Choi SH, Preis SR, Chen TC, Vorgas D, et al. Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the risk for dementia: the Framingham Heart Study. JAMA neurology. 2014. doi:10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.4781. PMID: 24276217.
BibTeX
@article{weinstein2014-24276217,
author = {Weinstein, G. and Beiser, A. S. and Choi, S. H. and Preis, SR. and Chen, T. C. and Vorgas, D. and Au, R. and Pikula, A. and others},
title = {{Serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor and the risk for dementia: the Framingham Heart Study}},
journal = {JAMA neurology},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.4781},
pmid = {24276217},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.4781}
}
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.
Key findings
- Some prior studies showed lower circulating BDNF in persons with Alzheimer disease (AD) compared with control participants; however, it remains uncertain whether reduced levels precede dementia onset.
- Results During follow-up, 140 participants developed dementia, 117 of whom had AD.
- Controlling for age and sex, each standard-deviation increment in BDNF was associated with a 33% lower risk for dementia and AD (P = .006 and P = .01, respectively) and these associations persisted after additional adjustments.
- Compared with the bottom quintile, BDNF levels in the top quintile were associated with less than half the risk for dementia and AD (hazard ratio, 0.49; 95% CI, 0.28-0.85; P = .01; and hazard ratio, 0.46; 95% CI, 0.24-0.86; P = .02, respectively).
- Brain-derived neurotrophic factor genetic variants were not associated with AD risk.
Why it matters
In the Framingham Heart Study, people with higher blood levels of BDNF (a protein that supports brain cells), measured before any dementia, were less likely to develop it later: those in the top fifth had less than half the risk of dementia and of Alzheimer's compared with the bottom fifth (hazard ratios 0.49 and 0.46), based on 140 dementia cases, 117 of them Alzheimer's. Genes that influence BDNF were not linked to Alzheimer's risk, and the study measured an association only, so it does not show that raising BDNF would lower anyone's risk.
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Study details
- Study designcohort study
- Participants140
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 63/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a cohort study following people over time. Scored zero for effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (JAMA neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | JAMA Neurology: journal h-index 235 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A cohort study following people over time |
| 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 | 2014 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 140 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 287 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 20.5 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 66 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Sudha S. Seshadri: h-index 148 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Boston University: institution h-index 1,456 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 24276217) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 63 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1001/jamaneurol.2013.4781
- PubMed: 24276217
- Original source →
- Free full text: PubMed Central →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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