jcm-logo

Journal Browser

Journal Browser

Innovative Approaches to the Challenges of Neurodegenerative Disease

A special issue of Journal of Clinical Medicine (ISSN 2077-0383). This special issue belongs to the section "Clinical Neurology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 February 2026 | Viewed by 422

Special Issue Editors


E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. NICM Health Research Institute, University of Western Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
2. Brain and Mind Centre, Sydney University, 88 Mallett Street, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia
Interests: Parkinson’s disease; diabetic kidney disease; oral mucositis; gut–brain axis; microbiome; photobiomodulation

E-Mail Website
Co-Guest Editor
Shepherd University, 301 N King St, Shepherdstown, WV 25443, USA
Interests: photobiomodulation; translational medicine; Parkinson’s disease; chronic pain
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

The aging process, while not a disease in itself, can be accompanied by some age-related changes that can occur during the lifespan at many levels. These changes carry with them an increased risk for a number of age-related diseases and degenerative conditions in humans, such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, age-related dementia, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and multiple sclerosis, as well as depression, and anxiety. In the context of improved healthspan, as opposed to lifespan, it is crucial that these age related neurodegenerative diseases be effectively treated in order to improve quality of life and increase resilience to age-related diseases. Evidence suggests that a multidisciplinary approach to diseases is needed in order to achieve the best results. The disease response to therapeutic interventions interacts with social and behavioral factors such as environmental exposure, healthy or unhealthy behaviors, social relationships, and existing comorbidities. This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in the development of new interventions, from molecular interventions all the way to environmental/social or rehabilitation strategies, to realize the best outcomes in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. Research data, new ideas, and discussions of potential interventions that modulate disease responses in an aging context are welcome. Original papers, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses are welcome.

Dr. Brian T. Bicknell
Guest Editor

Prof. Dr. Ann Liebert
Co-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. Journal of Clinical Medicine is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly 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 2600 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

  • neurodegenerative disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • multiple sclerosis
  • amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

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.

Published Papers (1 paper)

Order results
Result details
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Review

20 pages, 553 KB  
Review
Fingolimod as a Neuroprotective Agent in Ischemic Stroke: A Review of Preclinical and Clinical Evidence
by Alin Ciubotaru, Roxana Covali, Cristina Grosu, Daniel Alexa, Esthir Flavia Pilă, Andrei Ionuț Cucu, Amelian Madalin Bobu, Gabriela Dumachita Sargu, Laura Riscanu, Mihaela Camelia Tirnovanu, Cristina Adam, Radu Popa, Cristiana Filip and Emilian Bogdan Ignat
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(19), 6797; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14196797 - 25 Sep 2025
Abstract
Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide, with current therapies such as intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy benefiting only a limited proportion of patients. Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to secondary brain injury, creating a strong rationale for adjunctive [...] Read more.
Ischemic stroke remains a leading cause of mortality and disability worldwide, with current therapies such as intravenous thrombolysis and mechanical thrombectomy benefiting only a limited proportion of patients. Neuroinflammation is a key contributor to secondary brain injury, creating a strong rationale for adjunctive therapies targeting immune modulation. Fingolimod, a sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor (S1PR) modulator originally approved for multiple sclerosis, has shown promising effects in both preclinical and early clinical studies of acute ischemic stroke. Methods: We conducted a structured narrative review of preclinical and clinical studies published between 2015 and 2024, using PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases. Inclusion criteria were original studies evaluating fingolimod in ischemic stroke models or human patients, either as monotherapy or in combination with reperfusion therapies. Exclusion criteria included conference abstracts without peer review, studies lacking mechanistic insight, and non-English publications. Results: Preclinical evidence demonstrates that fingolimod reduces infarct size, preserves blood–brain barrier integrity, and modulates neuroinflammation through multiple mechanisms, including T cell sequestration, microglial polarization, and mitochondrial protection. Clinical trials, though limited in size, suggest improved short- and long-term outcomes when fingolimod is used in combination with intravenous thrombolysis or endovascular therapy, with a manageable safety profile. Novel nanotechnology-based delivery systems further enhance central nervous system (CNS) targeting and reduce systemic side effects. Conclusions: Fingolimod represents a promising multi-targeted adjunctive strategy for ischemic stroke, acting at the intersection of immune modulation, vascular protection, and neuroprotection. While current findings are encouraging, larger randomized controlled trials and biomarker-driven patient selection are needed to validate its clinical utility. This review highlights the translational potential of fingolimod and outlines key directions for future research. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Innovative Approaches to the Challenges of Neurodegenerative Disease)
Show Figures

Figure 1

Back to TopTop