Topic: Biomarkers of Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases are a group of age-related neurological disorders. They share a common prion-like pathogenic mechanism involving the conversion of their related cellular proteins into neurotoxic misfolded conformers and spreading from cell to cell. Consistent with these fundamental molecular events, several lines of evidence have revealed that inhibition of protein aggregation or clearance of protein aggregates can have disease-modifying therapeutic effects. As a result, their misfolded proteins or aggregates in the central nervous system, peripheral tissues, or body fluids can serve as highly specific diagnostic biomarkers. Indeed, recent investigations have developed specific pathologically misfolded proteins as diagnostic biomarkers through brain imaging and body fluids. All these developments have made the early diagnosis of some neurodegenerative diseases possible. For instance, the biomarkers listed in the A/T/N framework proposed by NIH-AA in 2018 are able to make the diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) approximately 20 years before patients are observed to have detectable dementia. In this Special Issue, we welcome researchers and clinicians to contribute original research articles and reviews on biomarkers of neurodegenerative diseases, including but not limited to Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and prion diseases.  

Neurodegenerative disease, prion disease, Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, biomarkers, skin

1 Aug 2024