Cited by 4,396Dementia and Cognitive Impairment ResearchAlzheimer's disease research and treatmentsNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

Tracking pathophysiological processes in Alzheimer's disease: an updated hypothetical model of dynamic biomarkers

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Jack, Clifford R, Knopman, David S, Jagust, William J, Petersen, Ronald C, Weiner, Michael W, Aisen, Paul S, Shaw, Leslie M, Vemuri, Prashanthi +6 more·2013·The Lancet Neurology

Abstract

In 2010, we put forward a hypothetical model of the major biomarkers of Alzheimer's disease (AD). The model was received with interest because we described the temporal evolution of AD biomarkers in relation to each other and to the onset and progression of clinical symptoms. Since then, evidence has accumulated that supports the major assumptions of this model. Evidence has also appeared that challenges some of our assumptions, which has allowed us to modify our original model. Refinements to our model include indexing of individuals by time rather than clinical symptom severity; incorporation of interindividual variability in cognitive impairment associated with progression of AD pathophysiology; modifications of the specific temporal ordering of some biomarkers; and recognition that the two major proteinopathies underlying AD biomarker changes, amyloid β (Aβ) and tau, might be initiated independently in sporadic AD, in which we hypothesise that an incident Aβ pathophysiology can accelerate antecedent limbic and brainstem tauopathy.

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  • A+T−(N)− and A+T−(N)+ indicate meaningfully different pathologic states.

    “We believe that A+T−(N)+ represents evidence of comorbidity, that is, A+T− represents Alzheimer’s pathologic change while in the A+T− context, (N) + represents evidence of non-AD neurodegeneration/neuronal injury [152] and thus A+T−(N)− and A+T−(N)+ indicate meaningfully different pathologic states [153].”

    From NIA‐AA Research Framework: Toward a biological definition of Alzheimer's disease (2018) · cites this paper as [153]

    In “Our Original Model – Lancet Neurology 2010” (page not available), the paper distinguishes amyloid biomarkers from biomarkers of neurodegeneration, supporting the idea that an abnormal (N) marker adds information. It does not examine A+T−(N)− versus A+T−(N)+ or establish that these two profiles indicate meaningfully different pathologic states. (LLM, conf=0.76)

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  • The integration of white matter changes within standard biomarker models of the pathological cascade in Alzheimer's disease remains missing.

    “However, the integration of white matter changes within standard biomarker models of the pathological cascade in Alzheimer’s disease remains missing (Jack et al., 2013).”

    From White matter diffusion alterations precede symptom onset in autosomal dominant Alzheimer’s disease (2018) · cites this paper as Jack et al., 2013

    In “Our Original Model – Lancet Neurology 2010” (page unavailable), the paper lists the biomarkers in its original and updated models without identifying white matter changes as a separate component. That supports the omission in this model, but the paper does not establish that white matter changes remain absent from standard biomarker models generally. (LLM, conf=0.78)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • β-amyloid markers become abnormal up to 20 years before clinical symptoms become overt.

    “This should be seen in the context that b-amyloid markers do become abnormal up to 20 years before clinical symptoms become overt [114], and because expression of apoE in the brain mediates clearance of amyloid-b peptides [89], a clearance that is impaired in Alzheimer disease [90].”

    From Plasma levels of apolipoprotein E, APOE genotype and risk of dementia and ischemic heart disease: A review (2016) · cites this paper as [114]

    In “Our Original Model,” the paper places CSF Aβ42 and amyloid PET abnormalities before clinical symptoms. Its “Recent evidence concerning the order in which biomarkers become abnormal” section reports that CSF Aβ42 was fully abnormal 5–10 years or more before dementia diagnosis and describes a protracted asymptomatic period, but it does not establish the claimed 20-year interval. (LLM, conf=0.86)

    Experimental — accuracy not yet measured
  • Models of AD pathophysiology theorize a temporal sequence where disruptions in Aβ production and/or clearance initiate a biological cascade that leads to Aβ plaque formation that spreads throughout the cortex followed by tauopathy, neuronal dysfunction and death, and ultimately dementia.

    “Models of AD pathophysiology theorize a temporal sequence where disruptions in amyloid-β (Aβ) production and/or clearance initiate a biological cascade that leads to Aβ plaque formation that spreads throughout the cortex followed by tauopathy, neuronal dysfunction and death, and ultimately dementia2,3.”
  • A hypothetical model proposes that Aβ deposition occurs independently and accelerates tauopathy, which then leads to neurodegeneration detectable on MRI and PET before cognitive symptoms become manifest.

    “A hypothetical model of dynamic biomarkers has been proposed to explain the pathophysiological process of Alzheimer's disease 142 , in which Aβ deposition occurs independently and accelerates tauopathy, which then leads to neurodegeneration detectable on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and positron emission tomography (PET) before cognitive symptoms become manifest.”

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Research works printed but not linked: 2

  1. [62]Thurfjell L Lundqvist R Villemagne VL Rowe CC A data-derived Aβ biomarker model computed using longitudinal PiB data from AIBL Alzheimer’s Association International Conference 2012 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Alzheimer’s Associaton 2012
  2. [81]Donohue M Aisen PS Dartigues J Jacqmin-Gadda H Gamst A Le Gogg M Validating Alzheimer’s pathological cascade by merging ADNI with PAQUID Alzheimer’s Assoication International Conference 2012 Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada Alzheimer’s Association 2012

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Authors
Jack, C. R., Knopman, D. S., Jagust, W. J., Petersen, R. C., Weiner, M. W., Aisen, P. S., Shaw, L. M., Vemuri, P., Wiste, H. J., Weigand, S. D., Lesnick, T. G., Pankratz, V. S., Donohue, M. C., & Trojanowski, J. Q.
Affiliations
  • Mayo Clinic (US)
  • University of California, Berkeley (US)
  • University of California, San Francisco (US)
  • University of California San Diego (US)
  • University of Pennsylvania (US)
Corresponding author
Jack, Clifford R
Venue
The Lancet Neurology
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2013-02
Volume
12
Issue
2
Pages
207-216
ISSN
1474-4422 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W1993571512
Cited by
4,396
References
121
Citations by year
2026: 265 · 2025: 339 · 2024: 376 · 2023: 352 · 2022: 360 · 2021: 428 · 2020: 395 · 2019: 365 · 2018: 313 · 2017: 309 · 2016: 262 · 2015: 292 · 2014: 228 · 2013: 106 · 2012: 1
FWCI
209.74
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The Lancet Neurology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Europe PMC (PubMed Central) (acceptedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (acceptedVersion)
  • eScholarship (California Digital Library) (submittedVersion)
Funders
National Institutes of Health (AG11378)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Psychiatry and Mental health › Dementia and Cognitive Impairment Research
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Keywords
Alzheimer's disease, biomarkers, pathophysiological model, amyloid-beta, tau protein, interindividual variability, cognitive impairment, sporadic Alzheimer's disease, disease progression
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Cognition Disorders, Humans, Models, Biological, Biomarkers, Amyloid beta-Peptides, tau Proteins, Nonlinear Dynamics

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