Systemic inflammation, infection, ApoE alleles, and Alzheimer disease: a position paper
Finch CE, Morgan TE.. Current Alzheimer research, 2007-04-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Plain-language summary
Alzheimer disease (AD) includes inflammatory processes in the senile plaques and surrounding glia, with increased expression of acute phase proteins such as C-reactive protein (CRP) and IL-6. Increased IL-6 expression during normal brain aging suggests a link of age-related inflammation to the onset of AD during aging. Blood levels of CRP and IL-6 are also associated with higher risk of Alzheimer disease and cognitive decline during aging. Some infections are known to induce inflammation and amyloid deposits. For example, HIV induces the deposition of the same beta-amyloid as in Alzheimer disease. The ApoE4 allele may increase HIV-associated dementia, in addition to its well-known effect on accelerating the onset age of AD. Many other adverse effects of apoE4 are recognized, which suggested the hypothesis that apoE4 persists in human populations because of balancing selection (Charlesworth-Martin hypothesis). The apoE4 allele was acquired during human evolution and may have conferred initial advantages in pathogen resistance. As evidence for this hypothesis, apoE4 carriers have less severe liver damage during hepatitis C infections. As human lifespan lengthened and cognitive and cardiovascular health became more important, the apoE3 allele spread, while the E4 allele was maintained in all populations by balancing selection.
What this study adds
Evidence grade: Low
This is a narrative review. This position paper notes that blood levels of CRP and IL-6 are associated with higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline during aging, linking systemic inflammation to the disease. It also discusses the hypothesis that the APOE4 allele may have been maintained in human populations because it once conferred advantages in fighting infections.
Taken from this record’s own fields, not from reading the paper. The grade is assigned from the abstract’s wording; what that means.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Finch, C. E., & Morgan, T. E. (2007). Systemic inflammation, infection, ApoE alleles, and Alzheimer disease: a position paper. Current Alzheimer research. https://doi.org/10.2174/156720507780362254
Vancouver
Finch CE, Morgan TE. Systemic inflammation, infection, ApoE alleles, and Alzheimer disease: a position paper. Current Alzheimer research. 2007. doi:10.2174/156720507780362254. PMID: 17430245.
BibTeX
@article{finch2007-17430245,
author = {Finch, C. E. and Morgan, T. E.},
title = {{Systemic inflammation, infection, ApoE alleles, and Alzheimer disease: a position paper}},
journal = {Current Alzheimer research},
year = {2007},
doi = {10.2174/156720507780362254},
pmid = {17430245},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2174/156720507780362254}
}
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.
Key findings
- Blood levels of CRP and IL-6 are also associated with higher risk of Alzheimer disease and cognitive decline during aging.
Why it matters
This position paper notes that blood levels of CRP and IL-6 are associated with higher risk of Alzheimer's disease and cognitive decline during aging, linking systemic inflammation to the disease. It also discusses the hypothesis that the APOE4 allele may have been maintained in human populations because it once conferred advantages in fighting infections.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 42/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Current Alzheimer research) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Current Alzheimer Research: journal h-index 119 (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 | 2007 — 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) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 5 / 7 | Cited 180 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.6 citations a year over 21 year(s) since 2007 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 9 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Todd E. Morgan: h-index 59 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University of Southern California: institution h-index 1,521 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 17430245) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 42 / 100 | — |
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