Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38341202›Full record

ArticleBMJ open2024

Brain health measurement: a scoping review.

Angeline Lee, Suraj Shah, Karyna Atha, Peter Indoe, Naira Mahmoud, Guy Niblett, Vidushi Pradhan, Nia Roberts, Reem Saleem Malouf, Anya Topiwala

Abstract readScoping Review
In one paragraph

Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 6 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
6citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

6 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Angeline LeeNuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK angeline.lee@ndph.ox.ac.uk.ORCID 0000-0001-6068-2689
Suraj ShahHealth Education England, London, UK.
Karyna AthaUniversity of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Peter IndoeHealth Education Thames Valley (HETV), Oxford, UK.
Naira MahmoudHealth Education Thames Valley (HETV), Oxford, UK.
Guy NiblettHealth Education Thames Valley (HETV), Oxford, UK.
Vidushi PradhanHealth Education Thames Valley (HETV), Oxford, UK.
Nia RobertsBodleian Health Care Libraries, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
Reem Saleem MaloufNuffield Department of Population Health, National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-0673-5126
Anya TopiwalaNuffield Department of Population Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.ORCID 0000-0002-8408-0372

Funding

Wellcome Trust
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesPreservation of brain health is an urgent priority for the world's ageing population. The evidence base for brain health optimisation strategies is rapidly expanding, but clear recommendations have been limited by heterogeneity in measurement of brain health outcomes. We performed a scoping review to systematically evaluate brain health measurement in the scientific literature to date, informing development of a core outcome set.

designScoping review. DATA SOURCES: Medline, APA PsycArticles and Embase were searched through until 25 January 2023. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR SELECTING STUDIES: Studies were included if they described brain health evaluation methods in sufficient detail in human adults and were in English language. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two reviewers independently screened titles, abstracts and full texts for inclusion and extracted data using Covidence software.

resultsFrom 6987 articles identified by the search, 727 studies met inclusion criteria. Study publication increased by 22 times in the last decade. Cohort study was the most common study design (n=609, 84%). 479 unique methods of measuring brain health were identified, comprising imaging, cognitive, mental health, biological and clinical categories. Seven of the top 10 most frequently used brain health measurement methods were imaging based, including structural imaging of grey matter and hippocampal volumes and white matter hyperintensities. Cognitive tests such as the trail making test accounted for 286 (59.7%) of all brain health measurement methods.

conclusionsThe scientific literature surrounding brain health has increased exponentially, yet measurement methods are highly heterogeneous across studies which may explain the lack of clinical translation. Future studies should aim to develop a selected group of measures that should be included in all brain health studies to aid interstudy comparison (core outcome set), and broaden from the current focus on neuroimaging outcomes to include a range of outcomes.

Indexed as

BrainHippocampusAdultCohort StudiesHumansNeuroimagingResearch DesignAged, 80 and overAgingDementiaNEUROLOGYOld age psychiatryPUBLIC HEALTH

Identifiers

PMID38341202
PMCPMC10862273

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.