Molecular Insights into Nutritional Neuroscience: Diet, Microbiota, and Brain Function
A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Bioactives and Nutraceuticals".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2026 | Viewed by 6
Special Issue Editor
Interests: behavioral psychology; psychological testing; psychological assessment; public health; neurodegenerative disease; psychological health; pathological mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The intricate relationship between diet, gut microbiota, and brain function represents one of the most dynamic and promising areas within molecular neuroscience. Recent advancements in the fields of genomics, metabolomics, and neurobiology have elucidated that nutritional factors and the gut microbial ecosystem exert their effects on the brain through varied molecular mechanisms, including the regulation of gene expression, epigenetic modifications, signal transduction pathways, and the synthesis of neuroactive compounds and metabolites that cross the blood–brain barrier. Molecular crosstalk along the gut–brain axis is now recognized as a key determinant of neurodevelopment, synaptic plasticity, neuroinflammation, and overall brain health.
Elucidating these intricate molecular pathways is imperative for comprehending the role of dietary components and microbiota-derived metabolites in brain function and dysfunction. This knowledge is crucial for identifying novel biomarkers and therapeutic targets in neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative diseases. Integrating advanced molecular techniques, ranging from transcriptomics and proteomics to metabolomics and systems biology, facilitates the precise dissection of these interactions and promotes the translation of fundamental molecular findings into clinical applications.
This Special Issue will provide an opportunity for research focused on the molecular mechanisms via which diet and the gut microbiota influence brain function in both health and disease. We particularly welcome studies that elucidate signaling pathways, molecular mediators, and omics-based signatures underpinning diet–microbiota–brain interactions. Original research articles presenting novel molecular data and comprehensive reviews summarizing current advances are encouraged.
Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:
- Molecular signaling pathways mediating gut–brain communication;
- Impact of nutrients and microbial metabolites on gene expression and epigenetic regulation in the brain;
- Omics-based approaches (genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, metabolomics) for deciphering the diet–microbiota–brain axis;
- Molecular mechanisms linking diet and microbiota to neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal plasticity;
- Identification of molecular biomarkers associated with nutritional and microbial modulation of brain function;
- Translational studies focused on molecular targets for intervention in neurodevelopmental, neuropsychiatric, and neurodegenerative diseases.
We look forward to receiving your contributions.
Prof. Dr. Ana Isabel Beltrán-Velasco
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.
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. International Journal of Molecular Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.
Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. There is an Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal. For details about the APC please see here. 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
- nutritional neuroscience
- gut–brain axis
- diet
- microbiota
- molecular mechanisms
- neuroinflammation
- cognitive function
- neurodegeneration
- omics
- biomarkers
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
- Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
- Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
- Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
- External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
- Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.
Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.
