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The cerebrospinal fluid "Alzheimer profile": easily said, but what does it mean?
Duits FH, Teunissen CE, Bouwman FH, Visser PJ, Mattsson N, Zetterberg H, Blennow K, Hansson O et al.. Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2014-04-08
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Background We aimed to identify the most useful definition of the "cerebrospinal fluid Alzheimer profile," based on amyloid-ß1-42 (Aβ42), total tau, and phosphorylated tau (p-tau), for diagnosis and prognosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Methods We constructed eight Alzheimer profiles with previously published combinations, including regression formulas and simple ratios. We compared their diagnostic accuracy and ability to predict dementia due to AD in 1385 patients from the Amsterdam Dementia Cohort. Results were validated in an independent cohort (n = 1442). Results Combinations outperformed individual biomarkers. Based on the sensitivity of the best performing regression formulas, cutoffs were chosen at 0.52 for the tau/Aβ42 ratio and 0.08 for the p-tau/Aβ42 ratio. Ratios performed similar to formulas (sensitivity, 91%-93%; specificity, 81%-84%). The same combinations best predicted cognitive decline in mild cognitive impairment patients. Validation confirmed these results, especially regarding the tau/Aβ42 ratio. Conclusions A tau/Aβ42 ratio of >0.52 constitutes a robust cerebrospinal fluid Alzheimer profile. We recommend using this ratio to combine biomarkers.
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APA 7th
Duits, F. H., Teunissen, C. E., Bouwman, F. H., Visser, P. J., Mattsson, N., Zetterberg, H., et al. (2014). The cerebrospinal fluid "Alzheimer profile": easily said, but what does it mean? Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2013.12.023
Vancouver
Duits FH, Teunissen CE, Bouwman FH, Visser PJ, Mattsson N, Zetterberg H, et al. The cerebrospinal fluid "Alzheimer profile": easily said, but what does it mean? Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association. 2014. doi:10.1016/j.jalz.2013.12.023. PMID: 24721526.
BibTeX
@article{duits2014-24721526,
author = {Duits, F. H. and Teunissen, C. E. and Bouwman, F. H. and Visser, P. J. and Mattsson, N. and Zetterberg, H. and Blennow, K. and Hansson, O. and others},
title = {{The cerebrospinal fluid "Alzheimer profile": easily said, but what does it mean?}},
journal = {Alzheimer's \& dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association},
year = {2014},
doi = {10.1016/j.jalz.2013.12.023},
pmid = {24721526},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jalz.2013.12.023}
}
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Key findings
- Results were validated in an independent cohort (n = 1442).
- Results Combinations outperformed individual biomarkers.
- Validation confirmed these results, especially regarding the tau/Aβ42 ratio.
Why it matters
This study compared different combinations of spinal fluid markers and found that a tau/Aβ42 ratio above 0.52 was a robust profile for diagnosis and for predicting decline in people with mild cognitive impairment. It concerns diagnosis and prognosis only, not treating, curing or preventing Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants1,442
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 62/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (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 | 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 | 3 / 4 | 1,442 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) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 303 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 21.6 citations a year over 14 year(s) since 2014 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 24.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 24 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 44 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Wiesje M. van der Flier: h-index 132 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 24 institution(s) in 10 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 24721526) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 62 / 100 | — |
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