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TREM2 Variants and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Zhou SL, Tan CC, Hou XH, Cao XP, Tan L, Yu JT.. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 2019-01-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
TREM2 (triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells 2) gene variants were reported to increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and even other neurodegenerative diseases (frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Parkinson's disease (PD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)), but so far, no definite conclusion has been drawn. The aim of our systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the role of TREM2 variants in neurodegenerative diseases. A total of 39 papers (including 26 case-control studies and 13 case reports) were retrieved from PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library in this study.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Zhou, S. L., Tan, C. C., Hou, X. H., Cao, X. P., Tan, L., & Yu, J. T. (2019). TREM2 Variants and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-181038
Vancouver
Zhou SL, Tan CC, Hou XH, Cao XP, Tan L, Yu JT. TREM2 Variants and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD. 2019. doi:10.3233/jad-181038. PMID: 30883352.
BibTeX
@article{zhou2019-30883352,
author = {Zhou, S. L. and Tan, C. C. and Hou, X. H. and Cao, X. P. and Tan, L. and Yu, J. T.},
title = {{TREM2 Variants and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis}},
journal = {Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.3233/jad-181038},
pmid = {30883352},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3233/jad-181038}
}
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Key findings
- The aim of our systematic review and meta-analysis was to investigate the role of TREM2 variants in neurodegenerative diseases.
- A total of 39 papers (including 26 case-control studies and 13 case reports) were retrieved from PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane library in this study.
- A fixed effect model was used to pool results in the analysis.
- Three variants in TREM2 (rs75932628 (R47H), rs2234255 (H157Y), and rs143332484 (R62H)) were significantly associated with AD risk, but the similar associations between rs104894002 (Q33X), rs2234253 (T96K), rs142232675 (D87N), rs2234256 (L211P), and AD were not proven.
Why it matters
This analysis of 39 papers found that three TREM2 variants were significantly associated with Alzheimer's disease risk. It does not test any treatment or prevention, so it only adds to understanding of genetic risk.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Genetics →
Study details
- Study designsystematic review
- Participants39
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 63/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Journal of Alzheimer s Disease: journal h-index 218 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 39 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 72 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 8.0 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 5 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 27 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Jin‐Tai Yu: h-index 94 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Fudan University: institution h-index 954 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 5 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30883352) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 63 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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