Parkinson’s Disease: Advances in Pathological Insights and Therapeutic Innovations

Dear Colleagues,

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common progressive neurodegenerative disease. It is considered the fastest-growing neurological disorder globally, currently affecting more than 12 million patients worldwide, and it is forecasted that there will be 25 million people with PD by 2050.  This global increase highlights the urgent need for better understanding and treatment of the disease. Recent advancements in the research of the pathophysiology of PD and innovations in therapeutic strategies present hope for more effective treatments. In particular, important recent discoveries have provided us with a better understanding of its biological basis, as well as genetic, behavioral, and environmental factors that play a role in disease pathogenesis and progression. On the other hand, new biomarkers, including alpha-synuclein seeding assays and innovative imaging techniques, demonstrate substantial potential for revolutionizing Parkinson’s disease diagnosis. Finally, new insights into therapeutic options aside from therapy and stem cell therapy, such as surgical interventions or emerging therapies, as well as novel neuroprotective agents (e.g., GLP 1 receptor agonists), therapies targeting alpha-synuclein, and microbiome-based interventions, may play a pivotal role in the near future.

This Special Issue aims to comprehensively explore recent advances, pathological insights, and therapeutic innovations in Parkinson’s disease. We invite original research articles contributing to a better understanding of PD pathophysiology or describing the effectiveness and impact of innovative therapies. Moreover, submissions covering basic to clinical research are encouraged, particularly those focused on identifying new biomarkers and applying novel technologies, including AI and wearable sensors. Moreover, we welcome systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and narrative reviews on topics such as the latest pathophysiological advances, genetics, and especially novel therapeutic agents (α-synuclein misfolding inhibitors, glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists, agents targeting GBA1 and LRRK2 activity) or modulating microbiome studies.

Prof. Dr. Sevasti Bostantjopoulou
Guest Editor

Dr. Ioannis Dagklis
Guest Editor Assistant

Manuscript Submission Information

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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.

• Parkinson’s disease
• pathophysiology
• disease-modifying therapies
• alpha-synuclein
• genetics
• agents targeting GBA1 and LRRK2 activity
• GLP1 agonists
• microbiota
• biomarkers
• environmental factors and lifestyle