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Tubulin immunopositive structures resembling intracellular neurofibrillary tangles
Schwab C, McGeer PL.. Neurobiology of aging, 1998-01-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Tau protein promotes microtubule assembly. When aberrantly phosphorylated, it forms the core of neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). We investigated by immunohistochemistry whether microtubules might also be involved in NFT formation. We found beta-tubulin immunoreactive NFT-like structures in Alzheimer disease, and, more frequently, in the parkinsonism dementia complex of Guam (bodig disease) and Down Syndrome. The beta-tubulin immunoreactive structures were intracellular and appeared at an early stage of tangle development. This may indicate an involvement of tubulin in NFT formation.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Schwab, C., & McGeer, P. L. (1998). Tubulin immunopositive structures resembling intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Neurobiology of aging. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0197-4580(97)00165-6
Vancouver
Schwab C, McGeer PL. Tubulin immunopositive structures resembling intracellular neurofibrillary tangles. Neurobiology of aging. 1998. doi:10.1016/s0197-4580(97)00165-6. PMID: 9562502.
BibTeX
@article{schwab1998-9562502,
author = {Schwab, C. and McGeer, P. L.},
title = {{Tubulin immunopositive structures resembling intracellular neurofibrillary tangles}},
journal = {Neurobiology of aging},
year = {1998},
doi = {10.1016/s0197-4580(97)00165-6},
pmid = {9562502},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/s0197-4580(97)00165-6}
}
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Key findings
- We found beta-tubulin immunoreactive NFT-like structures in Alzheimer disease, and, more frequently, in the parkinsonism dementia complex of Guam (bodig disease) and Down Syndrome.
Why it matters
This immunohistochemistry study found beta-tubulin immunoreactive structures resembling neurofibrillary tangles in Alzheimer's disease and, more frequently, in parkinsonism dementia complex of Guam and Down syndrome. The structures were intracellular and appeared at an early stage of tangle development, which the authors say may indicate tubulin is involved in tangle formation.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 32/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Neurobiology of aging) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Neurobiology of Aging: journal h-index 263 (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 | 1998 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| 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) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 9 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.3 citations a year over 30 year(s) since 1998 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.8× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 0 / 4 | Cited 0 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 4 / 4 | Last-listed author Patrick L. McGeer: h-index 119 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of British Columbia: institution h-index 1,424 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre 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 9562502) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 32 / 100 | — |
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