About this Research Topic
Multiple sclerosis is characterized by demyelination and degeneration of neurons in the central nervous system with profound heterogeneity in disease presentation, trajectory, and treatment efficacy. The heterogenous presentation of this debilitating chronic disease, such as poor balance and coordination, as well as neuropsychiatric symptoms, such as anxiety, depression, and cognitive dysfunction, urges the fine-tuning of our understanding of the distinct disease immunopathogenesis. Further, environmental factors like Epstein-Barr virus, vitamin D exposure levels, cigarette smoking, obesity, and stress are thought to converge with genetic determinants to influence the manifestation of multiple sclerosis progression.
Disease heterogeneity dictates the therapeutic efficacy of drug treatment. Since environmental factors are known to affect the disease trajectory, it is urgent to identify their specific impact on disease heterogeneity as well as their mechanisms of action. Therefore, this Research Topic is focused on the effects of environmental factors on multiple sclerosis and the identification of their mechanisms of action.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Perspective, Clinical Trial, Case Report and Review articles on human and/or animal studies that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:
1. Impact of environmental factors in multiple sclerosis
2. Mechanisms by which environmental factors modulate multiple sclerosis pathogenesis
3. Impact of environmental factors on neuroimmune interactions within the central nervous system during multiple sclerosis
4. Identification of biomarkers for multiple sclerosis disease heterogeneity
5. Therapeutic drug for multiple sclerosis disease with environmental factors therapeutic approaches to modulate neurodegenerative diseases via targeting environmental factors
Disease heterogeneity dictates the therapeutic efficacy of drug treatment. Since environmental factors are known to affect the disease trajectory, it is urgent to identify their specific impact on disease heterogeneity as well as their mechanisms of action. Therefore, this Research Topic is focused on the effects of environmental factors on multiple sclerosis and the identification of their mechanisms of action.
We welcome submissions of Original Research, Perspective, Clinical Trial, Case Report and Review articles on human and/or animal studies that cover, but are not limited to, the following topics:
1. Impact of environmental factors in multiple sclerosis
2. Mechanisms by which environmental factors modulate multiple sclerosis pathogenesis
3. Impact of environmental factors on neuroimmune interactions within the central nervous system during multiple sclerosis
4. Identification of biomarkers for multiple sclerosis disease heterogeneity
5. Therapeutic drug for multiple sclerosis disease with environmental factors therapeutic approaches to modulate neurodegenerative diseases via targeting environmental factors
Keywords: environment; neurodegenerative disease; biomarkers; multiple sclerosis
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.
