Mechanisms, Biomarkers, and Therapeutics of Neurodegeneration

Dear Colleagues,

Recently, mechanistic studies focused on toxic protein aggregation (amyloid, tau, α-synuclein), neuroinflammation, impaired proteostasis, and mitochondrial and lysosomal function have reshaped biomarker discovery and therapeutic strategy in neurodegenerative diseases. By mapping the molecular cascades that culminate in neuronal death, researchers have identified and validated biomarkers across diverse sources, including cerebrospinal fluid, plasma, and serum, and spanning multiple classes such as proteins, lipids, and other molecular species.

These biomarkers, assessed through approaches ranging from in vivo imaging modalities to biochemical assays such as ELISA and related immunoassays, now enable earlier detection, disease staging, prognostication, and objective readouts in clinical trials. Therapeutically, the field is pivoting from symptomatic relief to disease modification. Mechanistic insights now guide targeted interventions, including immunotherapies aimed at clearing pathogenic aggregates, small molecules that restore cellular homeostasis, modulators of neuroimmune pathways, and genetic approaches for causal defects. In essence, understanding the mechanisms of neurodegeneration has accelerated sustained and clinically meaningful research in biomarkers and therapeutics.

Dr. Xiao Bin
Guest Editor

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