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Molecular Advances in Neurologic and Neurodegenerative Disorders
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Molecular Advances in Neurologic and Neurodegenerative Disorders

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 January 2026 | Viewed by 2992

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Ioana-Miruna Balmus

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Exact Sciences and Natural Sciences, Institute of Interdisciplinary Research, Alexandru Ioan Cuza University of Iasi, Alexandru Lapusneanu Street, No. 26, 700057 Iasi, Romania
2. CENEMED Platform for Interdisciplinary Research, Grigore T. Popa University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Universitatii Street, No. 16, 700115 Iasi, Romania
Interests: neuroscience; neurophysiology; neurology; neurodegeneration; gastroenterology; animal physiology; animal behaviour; biochemistry; enzymology; molecular biology; molecular genetics; oxidative stress
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ioannis Mavroudis

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Guest Editor
1. Department of Neuroscience, Leeds Teaching Hospitals, NHS Trust, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
2. Faculty of Medicine, Leeds University, Leeds LS2 9JT, UK
Interests: neuroanatomy; neuropathology; psychiatry; functional neurological disorders; traumatic brain injury; post-concussion syndrome; chronic traumatic encephalopathy; neurodegeneration; dementia
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are delighted to invite you to contribute to the Special Issue, “Molecular Advances in Neurologic and Neurodegenerative Disorders”. The goal of the current Special Issue is to bring together experts in neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs), as well as specialists in traumatic brain injury (TBI), to elucidate several aspects regarding the implications of head trauma on the long-term predisposition to neurodegenerative processes. As it is currently accepted that chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) is the most common effect of repetitive head trauma, it was recently shown to have a strong molecular resemblance with typical neurodegeneration as seen in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and also in other NDDs, such as motor neuron disease (MND) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). In this context, we propose this Special Issue to cover the molecular resemblances and differences between TBI and NDDs and to discuss the evidence of the possible predisposition to NDDs as a consequence of TBI. The molecular resemblances and differences could address every structural level, including but not restricted to neurosignalling, neurodegenerative processes, brain–gut axis impairment, oxidative stress, and chronic inflammation. We invite authors to contribute original research papers and reviews.

Dr. Ioana-Miruna Balmus
Dr. Ioannis Mavroudis
Guest Editors

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

  • traumatic brain injury
  • chronic traumatic encephalopathy
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • motor neuron disease
  • amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • neurosignalling
  • neurodegeneration
  • brain–gut axis impairment
  • oxidative stress
  • chronic inflammation

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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13 pages, 1362 KiB  
Article
Resveratrol Attenuates CSF Markers of Neurodegeneration and Neuroinflammation in Individuals with Alzheimer’s Disease
by Xiaoguang Liu, Sean Baxley, Michaeline Hebron, Raymond Scott Turner and Charbel Moussa
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(11), 5044; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26115044 - 23 May 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1257
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation and neuroinflammation. A previous multicenter, phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial randomized 179 participants into placebo or resveratrol over 52 weeks. Sub-analysis of CSF biomarkers of neuronal damage, inflammation, [...] Read more.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation and neuroinflammation. A previous multicenter, phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial randomized 179 participants into placebo or resveratrol over 52 weeks. Sub-analysis of CSF biomarkers of neuronal damage, inflammation, and microglial activity was performed in a subset of patients treated with a placebo (n = 21) versus resveratrol (n = 30). Markers of neuronal damage, including neuron-specific enolase and hyperphosphorylated neurofilaments, were reduced. Microglial activation was measured via a triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells (TREM)-2 at baseline and after resveratrol treatment. Resveratrol significantly reduced CSF TREM2 levels and decreased inflammation and tissue damage, including matrix metalloprotease (MMP)-9. Cathepsin D, a lysosomal marker of autophagy, was reduced in the resveratrol group compared with placebo, while angiogenin, a marker of vascular angiogenesis, was increased. These data suggest that resveratrol may exert anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective effects in AD by reducing CSF TREM2 and other markers of neuronal damage. Further research is needed to assess the significance of these biomarker changes on clinical outcomes in patients with neurodegenerative diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Neurologic and Neurodegenerative Disorders)
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Review

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29 pages, 3008 KiB  
Review
Small Extracellular Vesicles in Neurodegenerative Disease: Emerging Roles in Pathogenesis, Biomarker Discovery, and Therapy
by Mousumi Ghosh, Amir-Hossein Bayat and Damien D. Pearse
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(15), 7246; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26157246 - 26 Jul 2025
Viewed by 307
Abstract
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and Huntington’s pose a growing global challenge due to their complex pathobiology and aging demographics. Once considered as cellular debris, small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are now recognized as active mediators of intercellular signaling in NDD [...] Read more.
Neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs) such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, ALS, and Huntington’s pose a growing global challenge due to their complex pathobiology and aging demographics. Once considered as cellular debris, small extracellular vesicles (sEVs) are now recognized as active mediators of intercellular signaling in NDD progression. These nanovesicles (~30–150 nm), capable of crossing the blood–brain barrier, carry pathological proteins, RNAs, and lipids, facilitating the spread of toxic species like Aβ, tau, TDP-43, and α-synuclein. sEVs are increasingly recognized as valuable diagnostic tools, outperforming traditional CSF biomarkers in early detection and disease monitoring. On the therapeutic front, engineered sEVs offer a promising platform for CNS-targeted delivery of siRNAs, CRISPR tools, and neuroprotective agents, demonstrating efficacy in preclinical models. However, translational hurdles persist, including standardization, scalability, and regulatory alignment. Promising solutions are emerging, such as CRISPR-based barcoding, which enables high-resolution tracking of vesicle biodistribution; AI-guided analytics to enhance quality control; and coordinated regulatory efforts by the FDA, EMA, and ISEV aimed at unifying identity and purity criteria under forthcoming Minimal Information for Studies of Extracellular Vesicles (MISEV) guidelines. This review critically examines the mechanistic roles, diagnostic potential, and therapeutic applications of sEVs in NDDs, and outlines key strategies for clinical translation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Neurologic and Neurodegenerative Disorders)
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25 pages, 756 KiB  
Review
Potential Correlation Between Molecular Biomarkers and Oxidative Stress in Traumatic Brain Injury
by Cătălina Ionescu, Madalina Ghidersa, Alin Ciobica, Ioannis Mavroudis, Dimitrios Kazis, Foivos E. Petridis, Dragoș Lucian Gorgan and Ioana-Miruna Balmus
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2025, 26(8), 3858; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms26083858 - 18 Apr 2025
Viewed by 873
Abstract
Diagnosing traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains challenging due to an incomplete understanding of its neuropathological mechanisms. TBI is recognised as a complex condition involving both primary and secondary injuries. Although oxidative stress is a non-specific molecular phenomenon observed in various neuropathological conditions, it [...] Read more.
Diagnosing traumatic brain injury (TBI) remains challenging due to an incomplete understanding of its neuropathological mechanisms. TBI is recognised as a complex condition involving both primary and secondary injuries. Although oxidative stress is a non-specific molecular phenomenon observed in various neuropathological conditions, it plays a crucial role in brain injury response and recovery. Due to these aspects, we aimed to evaluate the interaction between some known TBI molecular biomarkers and oxidative stress in providing evidence for its possible relevance in clinical diagnosis and outcome prediction. We found that while many of the currently validated molecular biomarkers interact with oxidative pathways, their patterns of variation could assist the diagnosis, prognosis, and outcomes prediction in TBI cases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Molecular Advances in Neurologic and Neurodegenerative Disorders)
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