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The presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate-stable Abeta dimers is strongly associated with Alzheimer-type dementia
Mc Donald JM, Savva GM, Brayne C, Welzel AT, Forster G, Shankar GM, Selkoe DJ, Ince PG et al.. Brain : a journal of neurology, 2010-04-19
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
The molecular pathways leading to Alzheimer-type dementia are not well understood, but the amyloid beta-protein is believed to be centrally involved. The quantity of amyloid beta-protein containing plaques does not correlate well with clinical status, suggesting that if amyloid beta-protein is pathogenic it involves soluble non-plaque material. Using 43 brains from the Newcastle cohort of the population-representative Medical Research Council Cognitive Function and Ageing Study, we examined the relationship between biochemically distinct forms of amyloid beta-protein and the presence of Alzheimer-type dementia. Cortical samples were serially extracted with Tris-buffered saline, Tris-buffered saline containing 1% TX-100 and with 88% formic acid and extracts analysed for amyloid beta-protein by immunoprecipitation/western blotting. The cohort was divisible into those with dementia at death with (n = 14) or without (n = 10) significant Alzheimer-type pathology, and those who were not demented (n = 19). Amyloid beta-protein monomer in extracts produced using Tris-buffered saline and Tris-buffered saline containing 1% TX-100 were strongly associated with Alzheimer type dementia (P < 0.001) and sodium dodecyl sulphate-stable amyloid beta-protein dimer was detected specifically and sensitively in Tris-buffered saline, Tris-buffered saline containing 1% TX-100 and formic acid extracts of Alzheimer brain. Amyloid beta-protein monomer in the formic acid fraction closely correlated with diffuse and neuritic plaque burden, but was not specific for dementia. These findings support the hypothesis that soluble amyloid beta-protein is a major correlate of dementia associated with Alzheimer-type pathology and is likely to be intimately involved in the pathogenesis of cognitive failure.
Key findings
- The quantity of amyloid beta-protein containing plaques does not correlate well with clinical status, suggesting that if amyloid beta-protein is pathogenic it involves soluble non-plaque material.
- The cohort was divisible into those with dementia at death with (n = 14) or without (n = 10) significant Alzheimer-type pathology, and those who were not demented (n = 19).
- Amyloid beta-protein monomer in extracts produced using Tris-buffered saline and Tris-buffered saline containing 1% TX-100 were strongly associated with Alzheimer type dementia (P < 0.001) and sodium dodecyl sulphate-stable amyloid beta-protein dimer was detected specifically and sensitively in Tris-buffered saline, Tris-buffered saline containing 1% TX-100 and formic acid extracts of Alzheimer brain.
- These findings support the hypothesis that soluble amyloid beta-protein is a major correlate of dementia associated with Alzheimer-type pathology and is likely to be intimately involved in the pathogenesis of cognitive failure.
Why it matters
In this study of 43 brains, amyloid beta-protein monomer in certain extracts was strongly associated with Alzheimer-type dementia, and a sodium dodecyl sulphate-stable amyloid beta-protein dimer was detected specifically and sensitively in extracts from dementia cases. The findings suggest that soluble non-plaque forms of amyloid beta-protein, rather than plaque quantity, relate to clinical status.
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Study details
- Participants14
- Evidence strengthModerate
How this study scored 57/100
Published in a leading specialty journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (Brain : a journal of neurology) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Brain: journal h-index 503 (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 | 2010 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 14 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 259 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 14.4 citations a year over 18 year(s) since 2010 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 16.4× 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 | 2 / 4 | Cited 20 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Dominic M. Walsh: h-index 86 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 3 / 3 | Harvard University: institution h-index 3,235 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 3 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 20403962) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 57 / 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
Mc Donald, J. M., Savva, G. M., Brayne, C., Welzel, A. T., Forster, G., Shankar, G. M., et al. (2010). The presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate-stable Abeta dimers is strongly associated with Alzheimer-type dementia. Brain : a journal of neurology. https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awq065
Vancouver
Mc Donald JM, Savva GM, Brayne C, Welzel AT, Forster G, Shankar GM, et al. The presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate-stable Abeta dimers is strongly associated with Alzheimer-type dementia. Brain : a journal of neurology. 2010. doi:10.1093/brain/awq065. PMID: 20403962.
BibTeX
@article{mcdonald2010-20403962,
author = {Mc Donald, J. M. and Savva, G. M. and Brayne, C. and Welzel, A. T. and Forster, G. and Shankar, G. M. and Selkoe, D. J. and Ince, P. G. and others},
title = {{The presence of sodium dodecyl sulphate-stable Abeta dimers is strongly associated with Alzheimer-type dementia}},
journal = {Brain : a journal of neurology},
year = {2010},
doi = {10.1093/brain/awq065},
pmid = {20403962},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/brain/awq065}
}
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