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Spatial patterns of neuroimaging biomarker change in individuals from families with autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease: a longitudinal study
Gordon BA, Blazey TM, Su Y, Hari-Raj A, Dincer A, Flores S, Christensen J, McDade E et al.. The Lancet. Neurology, 2018-02-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
We found a sequence to pathological changes, with rates of Aβ deposition in mutation carriers being significantly different from those in non-carriers first (across regions that showed a significant difference, at a mean of 18·9 years [SD 3·3] before expected onset), followed by hypometabolism (14·1 years [5·1] before expected onset), and lastly structural decline (4·7 years [4·2] before expected onset). Interpretation Mutation carriers had elevations in Aβ deposition, reduced glucose metabolism, and cortical thinning compared with non-carriers which preceded the expected onset of dementia.
Key findings
- We found a sequence to pathological changes, with rates of Aβ deposition in mutation carriers being significantly different from those in non-carriers first (across regions that showed a significant difference, at a mean of 18·9 years [SD 3·3] before expected onset), followed by hypometabolism (14·1 years [5·1] before expected onset), and lastly structural decline (4·7 years [4·2] before expected onset).
- Interpretation Mutation carriers had elevations in Aβ deposition, reduced glucose metabolism, and cortical thinning compared with non-carriers which preceded the expected onset of dementia.
Why it matters
In people from families with inherited (autosomal dominant) Alzheimer's disease, brain scans of mutation carriers began to differ from those of non-carrier relatives in a set order: amyloid deposition first (on average 18.9 years before expected onset), then reduced glucose metabolism (14.1 years), then structural decline (4.7 years). These figures are averages across brain regions of when the differences became statistically detectable, not personal timelines, and they varied by several years. The study shows these changes come before the expected start of dementia in this inherited form; it does not show that one change causes the next, or that the same timing applies to late-life Alzheimer's.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants346
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 77/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same 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 (The Lancet. Neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Lancet Neurology: journal h-index 457 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 7 / 12 | A longitudinal study following the same 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 | 2 / 5 | 2018 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 346 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 606 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 60.6 citations a year over 10 year(s) since 2018 |
| Impact for its field and year | 6 / 6 | Cited 41.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 4 / 6 | Cited by 62 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 206 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Tammie L.S. Benzinger: h-index 98 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 24 institution(s) in 4 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 29397305) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 77 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1016/s1474-4422(18)30028-0
- PubMed: 29397305
- Original source →
- Free full text: UNSWorks (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) →
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
Gordon, B. A., Blazey, T. M., Su, Y., Hari-Raj, A., Dincer, A., Flores, S., et al. (2018). Spatial patterns of neuroimaging biomarker change in individuals from families with autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease: a longitudinal study. The Lancet. Neurology. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(18)30028-0
Vancouver
Gordon BA, Blazey TM, Su Y, Hari-Raj A, Dincer A, Flores S, et al. Spatial patterns of neuroimaging biomarker change in individuals from families with autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease: a longitudinal study. The Lancet. Neurology. 2018. doi:10.1016/s1474-4422(18)30028-0. PMID: 29397305.
BibTeX
@article{gordon2018-29397305,
author = {Gordon, B. A. and Blazey, T. M. and Su, Y. and Hari-Raj, A. and Dincer, A. and Flores, S. and Christensen, J. and McDade, E. and others},
title = {{Spatial patterns of neuroimaging biomarker change in individuals from families with autosomal dominant Alzheimer's disease: a longitudinal study}},
journal = {The Lancet. Neurology},
year = {2018},
doi = {10.1016/s1474-4422(18)30028-0},
pmid = {29397305},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s1474-4422(18)30028-0}
}
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