About this Research Topic

Background

Neurodegeneration gives rise to different ailments such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Until now, there are no efficient treatments for these neurodegenerative diseases and one of the main reasons for this health issue is the lack of knowledge regarding to the underlying mechanisms that cause their onset and progression. In a similar manner, psychiatric disorders are complex impairments that require a deep understanding to completely describe their progression and determine their etiology.

The obtention of accurate knowledge related to the etiology and progression of neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders will only be achieved by studying with the same priority the neuronal and non-neuronal cells of the brain.

Non-neuronal cells that reside in the nervous system are key elements for brain homeostasis. In neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders their cellular physiology is deeply altered, and their role in these ailments is far from being completely unveiled.

This Research Topic intends to provide novel insights that contribute to the understanding of the role of non-neuronal cells such as glia, microglia, or endothelial cells, in neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders by using in vitro or in vivo models, and mathematical modeling in clinical studies.

Our goal is to contribute to the generation of a perspective where overlooked cell populations could be appreciated as key elements not only for a better understanding of neurodegenerative diseases and psychiatric disorders, but also as potential therapeutic targets if conceivable. We encourage the submission of original research articles, short research reports, systematic reviews, narrative reviews, mini-reviews, and letters to editor related to this Research Topic with a
cellular and molecular approach, including but not limited to:

- The role of microglia in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases

- The role of blood brain barrier in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases

- The role of glial cells in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases

- Multi-omics approaches in psychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases with high-quality bioinformatic analyses

- The use of induced pluripotent stem cells derived from patients with psychiatric and neurodegenerative conditions as platforms to study these disorders.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: neurodegeneration; glia; astrocytes; microglia; oligodendrocytes; endothelial cells; psychiatric disorders

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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