About this Research Topic

Background

Neurodegenerative conditions are mostly characterized by uncontrolled neuronal death leading to a gradual decline in brain functions. These disorders often selectively target subpopulations of neurons that lead to the progressive failure of defined brain systems. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are quickly becoming a global threat affecting tens of millions of people worldwide, with case numbers rising at an alarming rate. Early disease diagnosis is crucial as it can provide opportunities for meaningful therapeutic intervention at a stage when the progression of the disease can still be prevented, leading to improved outcomes. Biomarkers are objectively measured indicators of normal biological or pathogenic processes, and/or responses to interventions that can greatly contribute to future care and treatment. Furthermore, biomarkers should always be qualified for a specific context in which they are used. Though CSF Aβ42 and total tau/pTau are shown to have a high diagnostic potential to identify AD, and similarly oligoclonal bands (OCBs) in multiple sclerosis, unfortunately, most of the biomarkers currently available for diagnosing specific neurodegenerative conditions, particularly during early disease stages, have inadequate specificity and sensitivity, and limited clinical applicability.

Most neurodegenerative diseases affect the central nervous system and measurement of biomarkers in the brain tissue of living individuals is nearly impossible. Recent technological advances in proteomics, transcriptomics, and metabolomics offer crucial insights into disease mechanisms, as well as opportunities for the development of novel therapeutics that can prevent or slow down neurodegeneration. Very recently, easily accessible and less invasive blood-based biomarkers for several neurodegenerative diseases are being developed, which, in the future, may revolutionize the diagnosis and assessment of treatment outcomes of NDs worldwide.

For this Research Topic, we invite authors to submit Original Research articles, Brief Research Reports, Clinical Trial Studies, and Review Articles that provide novel and cutting-edge insights in the field of biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases, as well as future directions regarding the implementation of advanced biomarkers in regular clinical practice and clinical trials, including but not limited to:

● Identification and performance analysis of novel biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases

● Biomarkers for monitoring disease progression

● Analysis of biofluid-based biomarkers for NDs

● The mechanistic basis that affects biofluid-based biomarkers

● Description or development of novel neuroimaging techniques or PET ligands tracking molecular processes and disease states

● Impact of biomarkers from peripheral origin

● Classification of neurodegenerative disease subtypes based on biomarker analysis

● Assessment, validation, and interpretation of existing biomarkers of NDs

● Evaluation of the use of composite biomarkers [imaging, liquid biopsy, etc.]

● Correlation analysis of imaging biomarkers with biofluid-based biomarkers

● Clinical/longitudinal/correlational research studies utilizing or comparing prognostic markers

● Performance analysis of biomarkers in a diverse population

● Methods describing biomarker assay development

Keywords: Biomarker, Liquid Biopsy, Synucleinopathies, Tauopathies, Movement Disorders, Neurodegeneration, Motor-neuron diseases, Central Nervous System (CNS), Brain, Dementia

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.

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