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The AddNeuroMed framework for multi-centre MRI assessment of Alzheimer's disease: experience from the first 24 months
Simmons A, Westman E, Muehlboeck S, Mecocci P, Vellas B, Tsolaki M, Kłoszewska I, Wahlund LO et al.. International journal of geriatric psychiatry, 2011-01-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Objective To describe the AddNeuroMed imaging framework for multi-centre magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of longitudinal changes in Alzheimer's disease and report on early results from the first 24 months of the project. Methods A multi-centre study similarly to a faux clinical trial has been established to assess longitudinal MRI changes in Alzheimer disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy control subjects using an image acquisition protocol compatible with Alzheimer disease neuroimaging initiative (ADNI). Comprehensive quality control (QC) measures have been established throughout the study. An intelligent web-accessible database holds details on both the raw images and data processed using a sophisticated image analysis pipeline. Results A total of 378 subjects have been recruited (130 AD, 131 MCI, 117 healthy controls) of which a high percentage (97.3%) of the T1-weighted volumes passed the QC criteria. Measurements of normalized whole brain volume and whole brain cortical thickness showed significant differences between AD and controls, AD and MCI and MCI and controls. Conclusions A framework for multi-centre MRI studies of Alzheimer's disease has been established consisting of a harmonized MRI acquisition protocol across centres, rigorous QC at both the sites and central data analysis hub and an automated image analysis pipeline. Early results demonstrate the high quality of the images acquired and the applicability of the automated image analysis techniques employed.
Key findings
- Objective To describe the AddNeuroMed imaging framework for multi-centre magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of longitudinal changes in Alzheimer's disease and report on early results from the first 24 months of the project.
- Results A total of 378 subjects have been recruited (130 AD, 131 MCI, 117 healthy controls) of which a high percentage (97.3%) of the T1-weighted volumes passed the QC criteria.
- Measurements of normalized whole brain volume and whole brain cortical thickness showed significant differences between AD and controls, AD and MCI and MCI and controls.
- Early results demonstrate the high quality of the images acquired and the applicability of the automated image analysis techniques employed.
Why it matters
This paper describes a multi-centre MRI framework for studying Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and healthy controls, with most T1-weighted volumes passing quality control. Measurements of whole brain volume and cortical thickness differed significantly between Alzheimer disease and controls, Alzheimer disease and mild cognitive impairment, and mild cognitive impairment and controls.
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Study details
- Study designlongitudinal study
- Participants378
- Effect size97.3%
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 61/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a longitudinal study following the same people over time. Scored zero for randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (International journal of geriatric psychiatry) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | International Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry: journal h-index 190 (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 | 1 / 5 | 2011 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 378 participants |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| 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 135 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.9 citations a year over 17 year(s) since 2011 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 12 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 11 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Christian Spenger: h-index 47 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Inserm: institution h-index 1,988 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 11 institution(s) in 8 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 21157852) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 61 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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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
Simmons, A., Westman, E., Muehlboeck, S., Mecocci, P., Vellas, B., Tsolaki, M., et al. (2011). The AddNeuroMed framework for multi-centre MRI assessment of Alzheimer's disease: experience from the first 24 months. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.2491
Vancouver
Simmons A, Westman E, Muehlboeck S, Mecocci P, Vellas B, Tsolaki M, et al. The AddNeuroMed framework for multi-centre MRI assessment of Alzheimer's disease: experience from the first 24 months. International journal of geriatric psychiatry. 2011. doi:10.1002/gps.2491. PMID: 21157852.
BibTeX
@article{simmons2011-21157852,
author = {Simmons, A. and Westman, E. and Muehlboeck, S. and Mecocci, P. and Vellas, B. and Tsolaki, M. and Kłoszewska, I. and Wahlund, L. O. and others},
title = {{The AddNeuroMed framework for multi-centre MRI assessment of Alzheimer's disease: experience from the first 24 months}},
journal = {International journal of geriatric psychiatry},
year = {2011},
doi = {10.1002/gps.2491},
pmid = {21157852},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/gps.2491}
}
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