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Brain Sciences
Special Issues
Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Aging
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Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Aging

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Cognitive, Social and Affective Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 November 2026 | Viewed by 3393

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Yvonne Leung

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Psychology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia
2. School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Strathfield Campus, Strathfield, NSW 2135, Australia
Interests: dementia risk reduction; cognitive reserve; memory ageing; gender differences

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Dementia and cognitive impairment represent some of the most pressing challenges in aging populations worldwide. Despite decades of research, the underlying mechanisms are not wholly understood, and effective treatments are limited. This Special Issue seeks to consolidate current knowledge and foster new insights into the biological, psychological, and social factors for dementia and cognitive aging.

We welcome contributions that explore both normal and pathological aging, with particular emphasis on early detection, prevention, and therapeutic innovation. Submissions that leverage emerging technologies and methodologies are encouraged, including the following:

  • Neuroimaging and biomarker discovery;
  • Modifiable risk factors;
  • Artificial intelligence in diagnosis and prediction;
  • Longitudinal and cross-cultural studies of aging.

We invite submissions in the following formats:

  • Original research articles;
  • Systematic reviews and meta-analyses;
  • Clinical studies on diagnosis, treatment, and care strategies;
  • Theoretical and conceptual papers proposing new models or frameworks;
  • Interdisciplinary studies that integrate neuroscience, psychology, public health, and social science perspectives.

Dr. Yvonne Leung
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Brain Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2200 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • dementia
  • cognitive impairment
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • mild cognitive impairment (MCI)
  • neurodegeneration
  • cognitive aging
  • biomarkers
  • cognitive resilience
  • cognitive reserve

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

16 pages, 635 KB  
Article
Sex-Specific Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Brain Structures Vulnerable to Alzheimer’s Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study in a Brazilian Cohort
by Rodrigo Hohl, Fernanda Gabriele Fernandes de Morais, Tâmara Pessanha Taporoski, André Brooking Negrão, Simon L. Evans, Camila Maciel de Oliveira, Alexandre da Costa Pereira and Rafael de Oliveira Alvim
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(12), 1341; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15121341 - 17 Dec 2025
Viewed by 891
Abstract
Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is linked to brain degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Women, especially during menopausal transition, show increased susceptibility to AD-related brain changes. This study investigated the sex-specific neurostructural impact of MetS on brain regions vulnerable to AD. Methods: This cross-sectional [...] Read more.
Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is linked to brain degeneration and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Women, especially during menopausal transition, show increased susceptibility to AD-related brain changes. This study investigated the sex-specific neurostructural impact of MetS on brain regions vulnerable to AD. Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data from 500 participants (303 women, 197 men) from the Baependi Heart Study cohort, Brazil. High-resolution T1-weighted MRI scans were used for volumetric analysis of AD-related regions of interest (ROIs). Non-parametric quantile regression models compared ROI volumes between MetS and Non-MetS groups, stratified by sex and age (median split), adjusting for age and education. Results: No significant differences in ROI volume were observed between the MetS and Non-MetS groups in men. In women, findings were age-dependent. The younger cohort (≤48 years) with MetS exhibited significantly smaller left hippocampal volume (p = 0.02) and a trend toward smaller left middle temporal gyrus volume (p = 0.05) compared to Non-MetS. The older cohort (>48 years) with MetS showed a significantly larger right amygdala volume (p < 0.001). Furthermore, age-related volume decline in the hippocampus and middle temporal gyrus was significant in Non-MetS women but not in women with MetS, suggesting that MetS may be a confounding factor in age-related neurodegeneration. Conclusions: MetS is associated with sex-specific alterations in AD-vulnerable brain structures. In women, MetS may influence medial temporal lobe atrophy pre-menopause, and is linked to amygdala enlargement post-menopause. These exploratory results generate the hypothesis that MetS may uniquely predispose women to AD-related neurodegeneration, which requires critical longitudinal confirmation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Aging)
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15 pages, 562 KB  
Article
A Longitudinal Observational Study to Monitor the Outpatient–Caregiver Dyad in a Rehabilitation Hospital: Sociodemographic Characteristics and the Impact of Cognitive and Functional Impairment
by Daniela Mancini, Valeria Torlaschi, Marina Maffoni, Roberto Maestri, Pierluigi Chimento, Michelangelo Buonocore, Antonia Pierobon and Cira Fundarò
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(12), 1316; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15121316 - 10 Dec 2025
Viewed by 759
Abstract
Background and objectives: This study examines how sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors within the patient–caregiver dyad affect caregiver burden and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cognitive impairment. By comparing baseline data with a 1-year follow-up, the research aims to identify key predictors [...] Read more.
Background and objectives: This study examines how sociodemographic, clinical, and psychological factors within the patient–caregiver dyad affect caregiver burden and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in cognitive impairment. By comparing baseline data with a 1-year follow-up, the research aims to identify key predictors of caregiver burden and well-being. Methods: A longitudinal observational study was conducted in an Italian rehabilitation hospital, recruiting 132 outpatients and their caregivers at baseline, categorized as (a) Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI, n = 33); (b) dementia (DEM, n = 58); (c) healthy subjects (No-CI, n = 41). One year after baseline assessment (T0), patients were contacted and invited for an in-person follow-up re-evaluation (T1). Most attrition was related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Statistical analyses included non-parametric tests for group comparisons and stepwise multiple linear regression to identify predictors of burden, adjusting for confounders (e.g., age, gender, education, employment, co-residence). Results: A total of 51 subjects (age: 80.0 ± 6.1) and 34 caregivers (age: 58.8 ± 15.9) were evaluated. Patients were balanced by gender (53% males); most were retired (96%), married (62.7%), and cared for by sons (47%) or wife–husband (47%). Caregivers (females: 85%) were married (68.3%) and active workers (46.4%). Over one year, 17 No-CI subjects developed MCI or DEM; 15 MCI patients progressed to DEM. Caregiver HRQoL negatively correlated with distress and burden in MCI and DEM groups. Patient cognitive status, functional abilities, neuropsychiatric symptoms, and gender predicted caregiver burden, emphasizing the interplay between clinical and demographic factors. Conclusions: It is essential to monitor psychosocial factors in both the patient and the caregiver to develop effective prevention and support strategies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Aging)
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15 pages, 856 KB  
Article
Differences in Cognitive Health and Brain Activity According to Mild Cognitive Impairment and Physical Activity Levels in Older Women
by Jidong Tian and Wookwang Cheon
Brain Sci. 2025, 15(11), 1181; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15111181 - 31 Oct 2025
Viewed by 1116
Abstract
Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in cognitive well-being and brain activity between older women with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) across varying levels of physical activity. Method: A total of 126 female participants aged over 65 years [...] Read more.
Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate differences in cognitive well-being and brain activity between older women with and without mild cognitive impairment (MCI) across varying levels of physical activity. Method: A total of 126 female participants aged over 65 years were recruited and categorized into MCI and non-MCI groups. Cognitive health was evaluated using the Korean versions of the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE-K) and the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K), while physical activity levels were quantified with the Physical Activity Scale for the Elderly (PASE-K). Brain activity was assessed through electroencephalography (EEG). Data were analyzed using two-way ANOVA. Results: Results indicated that non-MCI participants consistently demonstrated higher cognitive scores across all physical activity levels. Moreover, individuals with higher physical activity exhibited greater theta wave activity compared with those in the MCI group. Significant group differences were also observed in concentration and stress levels. Conclusion: These findings suggest that higher physical activity levels are associated with better cognitive performance and brain activity in older women. Promoting physical activity may therefore contribute to strategies aimed at supporting healthy cognitive aging, although longitudinal research is required to establish causal relationships. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Dementia and Cognitive Decline in Aging)
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