Imagine the field of Alzheimer’s disease research as a vast ocean, and within it lies a fascinating creature called glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP). Scientists have embarked on a bibliometric analysis to map out the trends and hotspots surrounding GFAP in the realm of AD. Their findings reveal an explosion of publications in recent years, with researchers from around the globe joining forces to shed light on this mysterious protein. Like brilliant underwater explorers, the top three prolific countries—USA, China, and England—have delved deep into this research, while esteemed institutions such as the University of Gothenburg and UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology lead the charge. Notably, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, and Alexei Verkhratsky have emerged as the trailblazing authors in this field. As we navigate this sea of knowledge, key areas of interest such as molecular biology, genetics, and immunology beckon us further. Oxidative stress and inflammation emerge as fiery hotspots, illuminating potential avenues for therapeutic intervention. Furthermore, by analyzing linked keywords like cognitive impairment, microglia, and tau, scientists strive to unlock the secrets hidden within GFAP. Join this exciting voyage by immersing yourself in the underlying research!

ObjectiveOur aim was to analyze the trends and hotspots on glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) within the area of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) by using a bibliometric method, which is currently missing.MethodsAll articles and reviews on GFAP within the area of AD from inception to December 31, 2022, were searched from the Web of Science Core Collection. Full records were derived, imported into Microsoft Excel, and analyzed by BIBLIOMETRC, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace.ResultsIn total, 2,269 publications, including 2,166 articles, were ultimately included. The number of publications from 81 countries/regions and 527 academic journals increased annually. The top three prolific countries and institutions were the USA, China, and England, the University of Gothenburg (Sweden), Universidade Federal Rio Grande do Sul (Brasilia), and UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology (England). Henrik Zetterberg from the University of Gothenburg, Kaj Blennow from the University of Gothenburg, and Alexei Verkhratsky from the University of Manchester were the top three prolific and cited authors; Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease, Brain Research, and Neuroscience contributed the most publications. The top key areas of research included “molecular, biology, and genetics” and “molecular, biology, and immunology,” and the top published and linked meaningful keywords included oxidative stress, inflammation/neuroinflammation, microglia, hippocampus, amyloid, cognitive impairment, tau, and dysfunction.ConclusionBased on the bibliometric analysis, the number of publications on GFAP within the area of AD has been rapidly increasing, especially in the past several years. Oxidative stress and inflammation are research hotspots, and GFAP in body fluids, especially blood, could be used for large-scale screening for AD.

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