Mapping the landscape of cerebral amyloid angiopathy research: an informetric analysis perspective

Abstract

To quantitatively analyse the research output and major trends in the field of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) over six decades, from 1954 to 2014, using advanced informetrics methods, we systematically identified CAA-related articles from PubMed, collected metadata and performed productivity analysis, copublication analysis, and network and content analysis over defined time periods. Linear regression was used to investigate these relationships. Changes in CAA research themes (2000-2014) were defined using a topic modelling technique. A total of 2340 CAA papers were published between 1954 and 2014. The mean number (3.03; 95% CI 2.62 to 3.45; p<0.0001) and mean rate (0.13%; 95% CI 0.11% to 0.15%; p<0.0001) of CAA publications increased yearly. Analysis of copublication networks over 5-year periods from 1990 to 2014, revealed a great increase in the total number of connected investigators publishing on CAA (coefficient 16.74; 95% CI 14 to 19.49; p<0.0001) as well as the interactions between them (coefficient 73.53; 95% CI 52.03 to 89.03; p<0.0001). Further analysis of the network characteristics showed that in the past 15 years, copublication networks became not only larger, but also more connected and coherent. Content analysis identified 16 major CAA research themes and their differential evolution in the past 15 years, with the following main trends: (A) limited focus on vascular cognitive impairment; (B) a shift in emphasis towards neuroimaging, cerebral microbleeds and diagnostic aspects and away from pathological aspects; and (3) a reduced emphasis on basic biology apart from an increased focus on mouse models and perivascular drainage. Our study reveals the rapidly developing nature of the CAA research landscape, providing a novel quantitative and objective basis for identifying unmet needs and new directions. Our findings support the idea of a collaborative culture in the field, encouraging international research initiatives.

Deposition of amyloid β in the walls of human leptomeningeal arteries in relation to perivascular drainage pathways in cerebral amyloid angiopathy

“…Due to the close association of CAA with both Alzheimer's disease and with CAA-related intracerebral haemorrhage, the main aim of the present study is to establish the sequence by which Aβ accumulates in artery walls in the development of CAA. Despite the very infomative studies on the distribution of CAA (11) and its quantitation (12) , relatively little is known about the sequence of events that leads to increasing deposition of Aβ in artery walls in CAA in the human brain (13) . Establishing a full picture of the development of CAA is pivotal in understanding the clinical presentation of CAA, its detection by imaging techniques and the development of therapies to prevent the accumulation of Aβ in artery walls.…”

Four Decades of Research in Alzheimer’s Disease (1975–2014): A Bibliometric and Scientometric Analysis

“…We hypothesized that a bibliometric and scientometric analysis could yield research trends and provide valuable insights into the future directions of the field for both researchers and funding agencies. Bibliometric analyses have been previously conducted on other neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis [6], Parkinson’s disease [7], frontotemporal dementia [8], and cerebral amyloid angiopathy [9, 10], and rendered interesting clues with regards to the changing landscape of research on these diseases.…”

Vascular Parkinsonism and Cognitive Impairment without Lobar Hemorrhage related to Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy

“…The last 5 years have seen ongoing progress in this area, thanks in part to the development of news technologies within the fields of MR, amyloid PET ligands and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker analysis [15].…”