Sphingolipids associated research in Alzheimer's disease: an explored trends analysis

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive impairment. Numerous studies have indicated that dysregulation of sphingolipid metabolism is closely associated with the core pathology of AD and acts as a crucial driving factor. This study aims to employ bibliometric methods to comprehensively summarize the relevant research on sphingolipids in AD, identify research hotspots and emerging trends, and thereby provide objective data to guide future research directions.

Publications were retrieved from the Web of Science and Scopus databases. Visual analyses were performed using CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and Bibliometrix.

A total of 623 publications related to sphingolipids and AD were included. The United States and China were the leading contributors in this field. Johns Hopkins University was the most prolific institution. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease was the most frequently published journal. Dr. Erhard Bieberich was the author with the highest number of publications. High-frequency keywords included AD, sphingolipids, sphingolipid metabolism, ceramide, sphingomyelin, and cholesterol. Keywords with the strongest bursts in recent years included lipidomics, metabolomics, microglia, and cognitive impairment.

Research on sphingolipids in AD exhibits an overall fluctuating upward trend. Extensive collaboration among researchers from various institutions has facilitated advancements in this field. Sphingolipid metabolism represents a key focus in AD research, with ceramides and sphingomyelins identified as critical molecules. Lipidomics, metabolomics, and microglia are likely to represent future research frontiers.