Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42196255›Full record

SynthesisInternational journal of molecular sciences2026

Fluid Biomarkers of Cognitive Impairments Following Traumatic Brain Injury: A Systematic Review and Meta Analysis.

Yingdi Liao, Lianna Zhao, Youyang Zhu, Sirong Ye, Jinqing Huang, Zhichao Niu, Luoqing Zhang, Na Lei, Peixin Guo, Yuhuan Xie

Abstract readSystematic ReviewMeta-Analysis
In one paragraph

Synthesis in International journal of molecular sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–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

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
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.

Yingdi LiaoFirst Clinical Medical College, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
Lianna ZhaoSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
Youyang ZhuFirst Clinical Medical College, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
Sirong YeSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
Jinqing HuangSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
Zhichao NiuSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
Luoqing ZhangSchool of Chinese Materia Medica, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
Na LeiSchool of Basic Medical Sciences, Yunnan University of Chinese Medicine, Kunming 650500, China.
Peixin GuoThe College Based Key Laboratory of Yunnan in Aromatic Chinese Herbal Research, Kunming 650500, China.
Yuhuan XieThe College Based Key Laboratory of Yunnan in Aromatic Chinese Herbal Research, Kunming 650500, China.

Funding

Yunnan Province Science and Technology Department No.202501AS070139
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Traumatic brain injury (TBI), a major cause of persistent cognitive impairment (CI), increases the long-term risk of developing dementia, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). To elucidate this association, we systematically reviewed fluid biomarkers linked to post-TBI cognitive outcomes. A comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library databases was performed. A total of 29 clinical studies were included, reporting on several biomarkers related to neural injury and repair, AD-like pathology, and inflammation. Among these, neurofilament light chain (NfL), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase L1, total tau, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) were consistently associated with CI and brain atrophy across various TBI severities and stages. Notably, certain biomarkers assessed during the acute phase (within 7 days post-injury), such as brain-derived neurotrophic factor, neuron-specific enolase, and interleukin-1β, showed significant correlations with CI. In contrast, elevated levels of GFAP and NfL measured during the recovery phase (6 months to 8 years post-injury) were significantly associated with TBI-related CI (TBI-CI). The findings also highlighted that axonal injury, glial activation, neuroinflammation, neuronal damage, and degeneration drive TBI-CI, with tau pathology and synaptic dysfunction emerging as potential bridges from TBI to AD. This review underscores the critical temporal dynamics of fluid biomarkers in TBI-CI, revealing that stage-specific biomarker profiles mirror distinct underlying pathophysiological processes. Future longitudinal studies should focus on well-characterized patient subgroups, adopt standardized diagnostic criteria, and integrate fluid biomarkers with neuroimaging and genetic data.

Indexed as

BiomarkersBrain Injuries, TraumaticCognitive DysfunctionGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinHumansNeurofilament Proteinstau ProteinsBiomarkersGFAP protein, humanGlial Fibrillary Acidic ProteinNeurofilament Proteinstau ProteinsAlzheimer’s diseasecognitive impairmentfluid biomarkerssystematic review and meta-analysistraumatic brain injury

Identifiers

PMID42196255
PMCPMC13207309

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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.