ArticleBMJ open2025
Brain MRI for the diagnosis of dementia in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review and meta-analysis protocol of diagnostic utility and imaging findings.
Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled 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.
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.
Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Utilisation of brain MRI for the diagnosis of dementia in low and middle-income countries: systematic review and meta-analysis.BMJ open · 2026Pooled it
- AI-driven multimodal retinal imaging for early detection and risk stratification of vascular and neurodegenerative diseases.Graefe's archive for clinical and experimental ophthalmology = Albrecht von Graefes Archiv fur klinische und experimentelle Ophthalmologie · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
9 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionThe utility of brain MRI in dementia diagnosis offers critical insights into structural brain changes, such as hippocampal and thalamic atrophy, which are hallmark features of Alzheimer's disease and Alzheimer's disease-related dementias . However, its use, especially in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), is affected by limited accessibility. This protocol outlines a systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the diagnostic utility, feasibility and challenges of integrating brain MRI for dementia diagnosis in LMICs. METHODS AND ANALYSIS: The review follows Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols with a priori eligibility criteria and is registered in PROSPERO. Searches (from inception to September 2025) will be run in MEDLINE/PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and PsycINFO, with supplementary bibliography screening. Adults ≥50 years in LMIC settings undergoing brain MRI for dementia evaluation will be eligible. Data will be synthesised narratively and, where appropriate, via random-effects meta-analysis with planned subgroup analyses by MRI approach (qualitative vs quantitative), magnet strength, sequence availability and reference standard. Screening and data extraction are planned for 1 November to 30 December 2025. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION: Ethical approval was obtained from the Makerere University School of Medicine Research and Ethics Committee (Mak-SOMREC; Ref Mak-SOMREC-2022-337). For verification, contact the SOMREC Administrator at rresearch9@gmail.com. Departmental contact: Dr Geoffrey Erem, Head, Department of Radiology, Makerere University College of Health Sciences (dreremgeoffrey@gmail.com). Only published data will be used, with no new patient contact. Findings will be disseminated via peer-reviewed publication, conference presentations and policy briefs (and, where feasible, mainstream media) to inform clinical practice and training in LMICs. PROSPERO REGISTRATION NUMBER: CRD42024510241.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
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.