Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.6
2.4
Journals
Medicina
Special Issues
Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases
share announcement

Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases

A special issue of Medicina (ISSN 1648-9144). This special issue belongs to the section "Neurology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 4137

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Cristian Falup-Pecurariu

E-Mail
Guest Editor
1. Department of Neurology, County Clinic Hospital, 500326 Brasov, Romania
2. Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University, 500019 Brasov, Romania
Interests: movement disorders; Parkinson’s disease; stroke; neurodegenerative diseases; non-motor symptoms
Dr. Stefania Diaconu

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
1. Department of Neurology, County Clinic Hospital, 500326 Brasov, Romania
2. Faculty of Medicine, Transilvania University, 500019 Brasov, Romania
Interests: movement disorders; Parkinson’s disease; sleep disorders; Alzheimer’s disease

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

There have been remarkable recent advancements in understanding and treating neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and Huntington’s disease (HD), disorders which pose a considerable burden to patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems. Novel neuroimaging techniques (such as PET scans and quantitative MRI modalities), as well as genetic testing and advancements in the use of biomarkers in cerebrospinal fluid and blood-based proteins (such as tau and amyloid-beta), significantly contribute to diagnostic precision and disease staging. Wearable devices have been demonstrated to help clinicians to better characterize motor and non-motor symptoms of PD, offering real-time monitoring and enabling personalized treatment.

Emerging treatments such as the use of monoclonal antibodies, gene therapy, and cell-based therapies are being investigated for their potential to modify disease progression, and continuous efforts are being made to integrate these innovations into clinical applications.

In this context, we invite you to submit your research to this Special Issue of Medicina. The aim of this edition is to provide new insights into the epidemiology, pathophysiology, risk factors, diagnosis, and management of neurodegenerative diseases, including but not limited to AD, PD with motor and non-motor symptoms, Parkinsonism, ALS, and HD.

Authors are welcome to submit original articles; reports on novel treatment strategies and advances in decision making; clinical outcome and comparative studies; narrative, scoping, and systematic reviews; and meta-analyses.

Prof. Dr. Cristian Falup-Pecurariu
Guest Editor

Dr. Stefania Diaconu
Guest Editor Assistant

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 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

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. Medicina is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2200 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

  • Alzheimer’s disease
  • Parkinson’s disease
  • motor symptoms
  • non-motor symptoms
  • Parkinsonism
  • amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
  • Huntington’s disease
  • biomarkers
  • disease modification
  • neuroimaging

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 (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

20 pages, 28601 KB  
Article
Neuromodulatory Effects of Substantia Nigra Pars Reticulata Deep Brain Stimulation (SNr-DBS) in the 6-Hydroxydopamine Rat Model of Parkinson’s Disease
by Eylem Turgut, Hande Parlak, Pinar Eser, Yasin Temel, Ali Jahanshahi, Levent Sarıkcıoglu, Gamze Erguler Tanrıover, Tanju Ucar, Ersoy Kocabicak and Aysel Agar
Medicina 2026, 62(4), 714; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62040714 - 9 Apr 2026
Viewed by 711
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremor. While deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus internus (GPi) effectively alleviates motor symptoms, the potential of targeting the substantia nigra pars [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by bradykinesia, rigidity, and tremor. While deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the subthalamic nucleus (STN) and globus pallidus internus (GPi) effectively alleviates motor symptoms, the potential of targeting the substantia nigra pars reticulata (SNr) is less understood. This study investigates the effects of mid-term DBS of the SNr on motor function and neuroplasticity in a 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) rat model of PD. Methods: Adult male Sprague-Dawley rats (280–300 g) were divided into healthy control (n = 10), PD (n = 9), sham-DBS (n = 7), and SNr-DBS (n = 7) groups. Bilateral striatal 6-OHDA lesions induced PD. High-frequency (130 Hz, 60 µs) SNr-DBS was delivered for 14 days. Locomotor activity (open-field), gait (footprint method), and motor coordination (rotarod) were assessed. Tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) expression in the SN and c-Fos and BDNF expression in the cerebellum, prefrontal cortex (PFC), and ventrolateral thalamus were analyzed histologically. Results: SNr-DBS significantly improved ambulation and horizontal activity compared to the PD group (p < 0.05). Gait analysis showed significant improvements in forelimb/hindlimb stride length and stance width, while rotarod performance indicated enhanced motor coordination (p < 0.05). Histology revealed increased TH expression in the SN and elevated c-Fos and BDNF levels in the cerebellum, PFC, and thalamus in the SNr-DBS group vs. PD rats (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Mid-term SNr-DBS produced significant functional gains in motor activity and coordination in a 6-OHDA PD model, together with molecular evidence of dopaminergic enhancement and neuroplastic activation. These translational findings suggest that targeting the SNr may offer a clinically relevant alternative for patients with PD, particularly for those who may not optimally respond to conventional STN or GPi stimulation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

21 pages, 3349 KB  
Article
Quantifying White Matter Hyperintensities: Automated Volumetry Compared with Visual Grading Scales
by Arturs Titovs, Artūrs Šilovs, Kalvis Kaļva, Ardis Platkājis, Andrejs Kostiks, Kristīne Šneidere, Guntis Karelis, Ainārs Stepens and Nauris Zdanovskis
Medicina 2026, 62(1), 60; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62010060 - 28 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1396
Abstract
Background and objectives. White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are linked to cognitive decline, but clinical assessment still relies mainly on visual grading (Fazekas), which is coarse and rater-dependent. We described the lesion volume of WMHs and the association [...] Read more.
Background and objectives. White matter hyperintensities (WMHs) on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are linked to cognitive decline, but clinical assessment still relies mainly on visual grading (Fazekas), which is coarse and rater-dependent. We described the lesion volume of WMHs and the association of the anatomical distribution with the severity of cognitive impairment using automated lesion analysis. In addition, we evaluated whether automated volumetric quantification is more strongly associated with cognitive performance than visual grading. Materials and Methods. In a retrospective cross-sectional study, forty-one adults referred for cognitive concerns underwent standardised 3.0 tesla MRI. White matter hyperintensities were automatically segmented using Icometrix software to obtain total and regional volumes (periventricular, subcortical, brainstem, cerebellum). Visual grading used the Fazekas scale separately for periventricular and deep white matter, with a combined grade defined by the higher of the two. Cognitive performance was grouped based on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) into high (≥26), moderate (18–25), and low (≤17). Statistics included Spearman’s correlation and the Kruskal–Wallis test with Dunn’s post hoc test where applicable. Results. Higher total white matter hyperintensity volume was associated with lower Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores and showed significant differences across cognitive groups. The Fazekas combined grade correlated more weakly with the MoCA score. Regional volumetric differences showed trends, but were not statistically significant. Total volumetric burden increased stepwise across combined Fazekas categories, supporting convergent validity between methods. Conclusions. Our study found that automated volumetric quantification provides a more objective, sensitive, and scalable measure of white matter hyperintensity burden than visual grading, aligns more closely with cognitive status, and is better suited for longitudinal monitoring and research endpoints. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

19 pages, 710 KB  
Article
Beyond Motor Decline in ALS: Patient-Centered Insights into Non-Motor Manifestations
by Anca Moțățăianu, Sebastian Andone, Smaranda Maier, Rareș Chinezu, Medeea Roman, Mihai Dumitreasă, Rodica Bălașa and Ioana Ormenișan
Medicina 2025, 61(9), 1694; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina61091694 - 18 Sep 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1558
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Traditionally regarded as a purely motor disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. However, it is increasingly recognized as a condition with a broader clinical spectrum, [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Traditionally regarded as a purely motor disorder, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease characterized by the degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons. However, it is increasingly recognized as a condition with a broader clinical spectrum, encompassing a variety of non-motor symptoms (NMS) that significantly impact patients’ quality of life and may influence disease progression and prognosis. Materials and Methods: The study included 44 patients diagnosed with probable or definite ALS and 35 healthy controls (HC). Functional neurological status, non-motor manifestations, and cognitive and affective domains were evaluated using the revised ALS Functional Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R), the Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire (NMSQuest), the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), respectively. Results: A majority of ALS patients exhibited non-motor symptoms (NMS). Significant associations were identified between specific NMS domains and ALSFRS-R subdomains: sleep disturbances were associated with lower fine motor, respiratory, and total scores; digestive symptoms with lower bulbar, respiratory, and total scores; cardiovascular symptoms with lower total scores; urinary symptoms with higher bulbar subscores and a significantly slower progression rate (ΔPR); and sensory symptoms with higher gross motor subscores. BDI scores were negatively correlated with respiratory and bulbar functions, whereas FAB scores showed positive correlations with both bulbar and total ALSFRS-R scores. Conclusions: Non-motor symptoms are highly prevalent in this ALS cohort. These symptoms do not consistently correlate with greater motor impairment, as urinary and somatosensory involvement may occur independently of functional decline. Cognitive, affective, and behavioral alterations co-exist with motor symptoms and are associated with poorer overall functional performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Recent Advances in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop