Progress of Translational Medicine in Alzheimer's Disease

  • 36k

    Total Downloads

  • 158k

    Total Views and Downloads

Download PDFDownload EPUB

Submit your idea

Select the journal/section where you want your idea to be submitted:

Submit your manuscript summarySubmit your manuscript

About this Research Topic

Submission closed

Background

More than 50 million individuals worldwide suffer from dementia, and approximately 60 to 70% of individuals suffer with Alzheimer’s disease (AD). AD is a progressive and neurodegenerative disorder and is the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. From a genetic perspective, ongoing research has identified mutations in specific genes causing the early onset form of AD, and characterized variants of several genes, in particular APOE and TREM2, linked to the late onset form of the disease.

AD lacks effective treatments to modify disease progression. So far, three main therapeutic strategies have been described: 1) targeted brain amyloid deposition and accumulation (either by preventing or removing); 2) reduction of neurofibrillary tangles; or 3) acting on other disease-associated mechanisms. In view of the continued failure on anti-AD drug development targeting Aβ and Tau, other molecular mechanisms have been proposed. Neuroinflammation has been an emerging mechanism allowing drug development, an idea that is increasing in traction. Over the past years, studies have identified new molecular mechanisms and modifiable risk factors, changing AD’s neuropathology. For instance, the neuroinflammation underlying AD has been further elucidated and different strategies have been designed for AD intervention. Furthermore, roles of aging in the progression of AD are emerging as a field of particular interest; for example, age-dependent reduction of autophagy/mitophagy as well as NAD+ depletion, may play a causative role in AD.

Accumulative data suggest that advancing the understanding of AD mechanisms and risk factors may allow the development of targeted interventions to potentially prevent or cure the disease. There is an increasing number of mechanism-driven therapies effective in reducing the disease neuropathology in preclinical models, including AD transgenic models (e.g. the 5XFAD animals harboring amyloid neuropathology) and 3D human neural culture models. Among several examples, Cromolyn has gained attention as a small molecule in testing trials. Cromolyn has been tested for its mechanism of action, modulating neuroinflammation in cell and animal preclinical models and is currently in a Phase-III trial of AD. NAD+ is reduced in the brain of AD patients and a clinical trial is in preparation on an NAD+-boosting strategy to treat AD. These recent results highlight the need to deepen our knowledge and develop preclinical studies that are valuable resources and will require further testing for disease management in humans.

This Research Topic aims to collect experimental evidence supporting the facilitation of preclinical discoveries into clinical development. In particular, this topic will not only cover promising interventions, but also report and shed light on the areas that can further the disease understanding and future potential intervention strategies. We welcome Original Research articles and timely Reviews.

Areas of focus will include:

1. Recent findings on genetics, biofluid or molecule imaging-based biomarkers of AD, including those involving neuro-immunity and metabolism.

2. Evidence and reports on novel drug discoveries and drug targets identified from genetics and biomarker studies

3. Novel research methods to improve disease pathogenesis and progression, including molecular imaging, 3D modelling/printing and brain connectome.

Topic Editor Dr. Evandro Fei Fang has CRADA arrangements with ChromaDex, and is a consultant to Aladdin Healthcare Technologies and the Vancouver Dementia Prevention Centre. All other Topic Editors declare no competing interests with regards to the Research Topic subject.

Keywords: Alzheimer's Disease, translational medicine, aging, neurodegeneration, neuropathology

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

Topic editors

Frequently asked questions

  • Frontiers' Research Topics are collaborative hubs built around an emerging theme.Defined, managed, and led by renowned researchers, they bring communities together around a shared area of interest to stimulate collaboration and innovation.

    Unlike section journals, which serve established specialty communities, Research Topics are pioneer hubs, responding to the evolving scientific landscape and catering to new communities.

  • The goal of Frontiers' publishing program is to empower research communities to actively steer the course of scientific publishing. Our program was implemented as a three-part unit with fixed field journals, flexible specialty sections, and dynamically emerging Research Topics, connecting communities of different sizes and maturity.

    Research Topics originate from the scientific community. Many of our Research Topics are suggested by existing editorial board members who have identified critical challenges or areas of interest in their field.

  • As an editor, Research Topics will help you build your journal, as well as your community, around emerging, cutting-edge research. As research trailblazers, Research Topics attract high-quality submissions from leading experts all over the world.

    A thriving Research Topic can potentially evolve into a new specialty section if there is sustained interest and a growing community around it.

  • Each Research Topic must be approved by the specialty chief editor, and they fall under the editorial oversight of our editorial boards, supported by our in-house research integrity team. The same standards and rigorous peer review processes apply to articles published as part of a Research Topic as for any other article we publish.

      In 2023, 80% of the Research Topics we published were edited or co-edited by our editorial board members, who are already familiar with their journal's scope, ethos, and publishing model. All other topics are guest edited by leaders in their field, each vetted and formally approved by the specialty chief editor.

  • Publishing your article within a Research Topic with other related articles increases its discoverability and visibility, which can lead to more views, downloads, and citations. Research Topics grow dynamically as more published articles are added, causing frequent revisiting, and further visibility.

    As Research Topics are multidisciplinary, they are cross-listed in several fields and section journals – increasing your reach even more and giving you the chance to expand your network and collaborate with researchers in different fields, all focusing on expanding knowledge around the same important topic.

    Our larger Research Topics are also converted into ebooks and receive social media promotion from our digital marketing team.

     

  • Frontiers offers multiple article types, but it will depend on the field and section journals in which the Research Topic will be featured. The available article types for a Research Topic will appear in the drop-down menu during the submission process.

    Check available article types here 

  • Yes, we would love to hear your ideas for a topic. Most of our Research Topics are community-led and suggested by researchers in the field. Our in-house editorial team will contact you to talk about your idea and whether you’d like to edit the topic. If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. 

    Suggest your topic here 

  • A team of guest editors (called topic editors) lead their Research Topic. This editorial team oversees the entire process, from the initial topic proposal to calls for participation, the peer review, and final publications.

    The team may also include topic coordinators, who help the topic editors send calls for participation, liaise with topic editors on abstracts, and support contributing authors. In some cases, they can also be assigned as reviewers.

  • As a topic editor (TE), you will take the lead on all editorial decisions for the Research Topic, starting with defining its scope. This allows you to curate research around a topic that interests you, bring together different perspectives from leading researchers across different fields and shape the future of your field. 

     

    You will choose your team of co-editors, curate a list of potential authors, send calls for participation and oversee the peer review process, accepting or recommending rejection for each manuscript submitted.

  • As a topic editor, you're supported at every stage by our in-house team. You will be assigned a single point of contact to help you on both editorial and technical matters. Your topic is managed through our user-friendly online platform, and the peer review process is supported by our industry-first AI review assistant (AIRA).

  • If you’re an early-stage researcher, we will offer you the opportunity to coordinate your topic, with the support of a senior researcher as the topic editor. This provides you with valuable editorial experience, improving your ability to critically evaluate research articles and enhancing your understanding of the quality standards and requirements for scientific publishing, as well as the opportunity to discover new research in your field, and expand your professional network.

  • Yes, certificates can be issued on request. We are happy to provide a certificate for your contribution to editing a successful Research Topic.

  • Research Topics thrive on collaboration and their multi-disciplinary approach around emerging, cutting-edge themes, attract leading researchers from all over the world.

  • As a topic editor, you can set the timeline for your Research Topic, and we will work with you at your pace. Typically, Research Topics are online and open for submissions within a few weeks and remain open for participation for 6 – 12 months. Individual articles within a Research Topic are published as soon as they are ready.

    Find out more about our Research Topics

  • Our fee support program ensures that all articles that pass peer review, including those published in Research Topics, can benefit from open access – regardless of the author's field or funding situation.

    Authors and institutions with insufficient funding can apply for a discount on their publishing fees. A fee support application form is available on our website.

  • In line with our mission to promote healthy lives on a healthy planet, we do not provide printed materials. All our articles and ebooks are available under a CC-BY license, so you can share and print copies.

     

Impact

  • 158kTopic views
  • 120kArticle views
  • 36kArticle downloads
View impact