White Matter Lesions: Pathological Analysis and Prognosis

Dear Colleagues,

White matter (WM) contains neural networks shaped by bundles of axons to mediate fundamental connectivity between different cortical and subcortical regions that are important for several aspects of our behavior. White matter lesions (WMLs) constitute areas of abnormal myelination that can result from several causes, including vascular and non-vascular causes. Vascular causes include small vessel disease, atherosclerosis, migraine, amyloid angiopathy, vasculitis, etc. On the other hand, non-vascular causes may be inflammatory, infectious, toxic, metabolic, neoplastic, traumatic, or genetic. The pathophysiology, management, and prognosis of WMLs depend on the etiology of the lesions. Severe white matter lesions are associated with cognitive decline, functional impairment, mood disorders, gait and balance dysfunction, as well as an increased risk for comorbidities (e.g., cerebrovascular accidents). They are also associated with grey matter atrophy and accelerate neurodegeneration. A multidisciplinary clinical and research approach is therefore crucial for the management of patients with white matter lesions. This Special Issue aims to cover the newest advancements in the field of WMLs, and invites authors to contribute original studies and reviews regarding blood and cerebrospinal fluid, cellular, molecular, neuroimaging and neurophysiological biomarkers that depict the underlying mechanisms of disease, provide insight into the pathogenesis of functional deficits, as well as compensatory mechanisms on a microstructural level, assess corticospinal tract integrity and brain connectivity and characterize WML recovery mechanisms for various deficits, including motor, language, and cognition deficits. Other types of advanced data analytics techniques that attempt to construct WML prognosis algorithms are also welcome.

Dr. Foteini Christidi
Dr. Dimitrios Tsiptsios
Guest Editors

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