Dear Colleagues,
Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of disorders that affect the structure and function of the central nervous system, leading to the progressive loss of cognitive, motor, and sensory abilities. They include Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Huntington’s disease, and many others. Neurodegenerative diseases pose a major challenge for public health as they affect millions of people worldwide and have no cure. Moreover, they are associated with a high burden of disability, morbidity, mortality, and socioeconomic costs.
In recent years, significant advances have been made in the understanding of the pathophysiology, epidemiology, and genetics of neurodegenerative diseases, as well as in the development of novel diagnostic tools, therapeutic interventions, and rehabilitation strategies. Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), have shown potential to improve both motor and nonmotor symptoms in patients with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s. These techniques are of particular interest for the treatment of cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease and axial disturbances in Parkinson’s disease, where conventional pharmacological therapies have shown limited effects. Recent evidence suggests that NIBS may have a neuroprotective effect, potentially slowing disease progression and modulating the aggregation state of pathological proteins. However, many gaps and challenges remain in the field, such as the identification of reliable biomarkers, the elucidation of the environmental and lifestyle factors that modulate disease risk and progression, the optimization of clinical trials and drug delivery systems, and improvements in the quality of life and care of patients and caregivers. Moreover, the potential of NIBS to influence disease progression over time remains poorly understood, along with ongoing investigations into the development of standardized stimulation protocols for the precise targeting of deep brain regions.
This Topical Collection aims to showcase the latest research and innovations in the field of neurodegenerative diseases, covering a wide range of topics, such as the following:
- Risk factors, such as genetic and environmental, that influence the onset and course of neurodegenerative diseases;
- Prodromal symptoms and early diagnosis, using advanced imaging techniques, biomarkers, and digital technologies;
- Comorbidities, such as psychiatric, metabolic, and cardiovascular disorders, that affect or are affected by neurodegenerative diseases;
- Novel therapeutic targets and treatments, such as gene therapy, stem cell therapy, immunotherapy, medicinal plants, phytocompounds, and neuroprotective agents;
- Role of oxidative stress and inflammation as triggers of neurodegenerative conditions;
- Quality-of-life-oriented rehabilitation, such as cognitive, physical, and psychosocial interventions that enhance the functioning and well-being of patients and caregivers;
- Innovative translational research, such as bench-to-bed and bed-to-bench, and modeling, such as in vitro and in vivo;
- Non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) as a therapeutic intervention that may offer neuroprotective effects and improve symptoms in neurodegenerative diseases.
We invite researchers and clinicians from various disciplines and backgrounds to submit their original articles and reviews to this Topical Collection contribute to the advancement of knowledge and practice in the field of neurodegenerative diseases. We hope that this Topical Collection will provide a comprehensive and up-to-date overview of the current state and future directions of the field and will stimulate further research and collaboration among the scientific community.
Dr. Masaru Tanaka
Dr. Simone Battaglia
Dr. Donato Liloia
Collection Editor
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