Biomarkers and Diagnostics in Neurological Diseases

Dear Colleagues,

Over the past decade, significant progress has been achieved in implementing novel biomarkers for diagnosing neurological diseases. Technological advancements have expedited the transition of biomarkers from bench to bedside, enabling their integration into diagnostic and therapeutic algorithms for diverse neurological conditions, including cerebrovascular, neurodegenerative, and neuroimmunological disorders.

This Special Issue highlights current research and fosters discussions on the evolving role of biomarkers in neurological diseases. Biomarkers are currently indispensable tools for neurologists, contributing to differential diagnosis, prognostic assessment, and treatment monitoring. Their sensitivity, specificity, and clinical validity remain critical areas of investigation.

Topics of interest include diagnostic biomarkers across neuroimaging, neurophysiology, serology, and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) domains. Examples encompass the following:

(i) Established serum and CSF biomarkers, such as Aβ and tau peptides, facilitating early Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis;
(ii) Emerging biomarkers for differential diagnosis and treatment monitoring in neurodegenerative (e.g., amyotrophic lateral sclerosis) and neuroimmunological disorders (e.g., multiple sclerosis);
(iii) Lipoprotein(a) as a cerebrovascular biomarker for intracranial and extracranial atherosclerosis;
(iv) Inflammatory cytokines, Schwann cell‐specific proteins, and microRNAs for peripheral neuropathies;
(v) Neuroimaging biomarkers, including amyloid PET, tau PET, and advanced modalities like spectroscopy;
(vi) Translational neurophysiological biomarkers, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)-evoked potentials for consciousness disorders;
(vii) Artificial intelligence (AI) applications for identifying reliable neurological biomarkers.

This Special Issue aims to advance understanding and clarify the clinical utility of biomarkers in neurology.

Dr. Maria Ioanna Stefanou
Guest Editor

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