Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42273876›Full record

ArticleAlzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association2026

Cortical synchrony is reduced in Alzheimer's disease and relates to arousal state.

Michael C B David, Emma-Jane Mallas, Magdalena A Kolanko, Martina Del Giovane, Danielle L Kurtin, Ramin Nilforooshan, Karl A Zimmerman, Cristina Bonet Olivares, Peter J Lally, CR&T Group of UKDRI and 3 more

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Article in Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

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No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

13 authors.

Michael C B DavidUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Emma-Jane MallasUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Magdalena A KolankoUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Martina Del GiovaneUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Danielle L KurtinImperial College London, Brain Sciences, London, UK.
Ramin NilforooshanUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Karl A ZimmermanUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Cristina Bonet OlivaresImperial College London, Brain Sciences, London, UK.
Peter J LallyUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.
CR&T Group of UKDRIUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.
David J SharpUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Paresh A MalhotraUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.
Gregory ScottUK Dementia Research Institute Care Research and Technology Centre, Imperial College London, London, UK.

Funding

Alzheimer's SocietyMedical Research CouncilNational Institute for Health and Care Research
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionThe brain is a complex dynamical system, influenced by arousal state. Cortical synchrony supports information processing and is disrupted in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Locus coeruleus (LC) integrity and pupillometry index arousal system structure and function.

methodsSixty-four AD and 26 controls underwent resting-state pupillometry-fMRI. Neuromelanin MRI and Addenbrooke's Cognitive Examination were conducted. Mean and standard deviation of blood oxygen level dependent (BOLD) phase coherence yielded synchrony and metastability, respectively. Leading Eigenvector Dynamics Analysis (LEiDA) produced coherence-based states.

resultsAD had reduced global synchrony [b = -0.90, p < 0.001], metastability [b = -0.61, p < 0.01], LEiDA "global coherence state" occupancy [b = -0.06, p < 0.01], and LC integrity [b = -0.37, p = 0.01]. Synchrony [b = 0.19, p = 0.01] and LC integrity [b = 0.17, p < 0.01] related to cognition and one another [b = 0.27, p = 0.01]. Pupil-linked arousal correlated with synchrony and global coherence state maintenance. DISCUSSION: In health, cortical activity shows widespread but dynamic synchrony across regions to meet changing demands. In AD, arousal dysfunction appears to disrupt these dynamics, impacting cognition.

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseArousalCerebral CortexCortical SynchronizationLocus CoeruleusAgedAged, 80 and overFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMelaninsNeuropsychological TestsOxygenPupilMelaninsOxygenAlzheimer's diseasearousalcognitioncriticalityfMRILEiDAlocus coeruleusmetastabilitypupillometrysynchrony

Identifiers

PMID42273876
PMCPMC13254816

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LicenceCC BY
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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.