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

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 June 2026 | Viewed by 1299

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Sevasti Bostantjopoulou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
3rd Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, G. Papanikolaou General Hospital of Thessaloniki, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: Parkinson’s disease; atypical parkinsonism; movement disorders
Dr. Ioannis Dagklis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
3rd Department of Neurology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, G. Papanikolaou General Hospital of Thessaloniki, 57010 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: Parkinson’s disease; non-motor symptoms (NMS) of Parkinson’s disease; PD biomarkers; PD genetics; atypical parkinsonism; dementia

Special Issue Information

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

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

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

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Published Papers (2 papers)

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15 pages, 1072 KB  
Article
An Exploratory Study of Auditory Brainstem Responses and Hearing Thresholds in Essential Tremor
by Hatice Yelda Yıldız, Mete İşeri and Pervin İşeri
Medicina 2026, 62(3), 495; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62030495 - 5 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Background and Objectives: Essential tremor (ET) is the most prevalent movement disorder, yet its neurophysiological basis remains incompletely understood. Emerging evidence indicates that ET may involve non-motor manifestations, including auditory dysfunction. Given the anatomical convergence of tremor-related and auditory pathways at the [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Essential tremor (ET) is the most prevalent movement disorder, yet its neurophysiological basis remains incompletely understood. Emerging evidence indicates that ET may involve non-motor manifestations, including auditory dysfunction. Given the anatomical convergence of tremor-related and auditory pathways at the brainstem level, electrophysiological assessment of the auditory system may provide insights into ET pathophysiology. This study aimed to evaluate auditory pathway function in patients with essential tremor using conventional audiometry, brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP), and medium-latency auditory evoked potentials (MLAEP), and to examine their associations with tremor characteristics. Materials and Methods: Thirty patients with ET (mean age 56.6 ± 19.2 years; 15 women) and 30 healthy controls with similar age and sex distribution underwent pure-tone audiometry, BAEP, and MLAEP recordings. Tremor severity and distribution were assessed using a standardized evaluation based on the Fahn–Tolosa–Marin Tremor Rating Scale. Results: Conventional audiometry demonstrated normal hearing thresholds in 63.3% of ET patients and 83% of controls, while sensorineural hearing loss was observed in 36.6% and 16.6%, respectively (p > 0.05). High-frequency hearing loss (HFHL) was significantly more prevalent in the ET group (p = 0.003). BAEP analysis revealed significant prolongation of peak latencies in right-sided waves II and III and left-sided waves I and II in ET patients compared with controls (p < 0.05), whereas interpeak latencies (I–III, III–V, I–V) did not differ between groups. MLAEP latencies (Na, Pa, Nb) showed no significant differences between ET patients and controls (all p > 0.05) and were not associated with tremor severity, disease duration, or hearing asymmetry. Conclusions: High-frequency hearing loss is more prevalent in essential tremor, and selective BAEP latency changes observed in the context of preserved interpeak intervals suggest predominantly delayed peripheral auditory input rather than a primary brainstem conduction abnormality. Preserved MLAEP responses indicate relative sparing of thalamocortical auditory processing, supporting the concept of essential tremor as a multisystem network disorder in which altered auditory input may interact with broader network-level mechanisms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parkinson’s Disease: Advances in Pathological Insights and Therapeutic Innovations)
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24 pages, 1093 KB  
Systematic Review
Backward Walking as a Rehabilitation Strategy in Parkinson’s Disease: A Focused Systematic Review
by Monika Jadwiga Krefft, Paulina Magdalena Ostrowska, Rafał Studnicki and Rita Hansdorfer-Korzon
Medicina 2026, 62(5), 867; https://doi.org/10.3390/medicina62050867 - 30 Apr 2026
Viewed by 386
Abstract
Background and Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder in which gait and balance disturbances substantially increase the risk of falls and loss of independence. Pharmacological treatment alleviates several motor symptoms but has limited effects on postural instability. Backward walking [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder in which gait and balance disturbances substantially increase the risk of falls and loss of independence. Pharmacological treatment alleviates several motor symptoms but has limited effects on postural instability. Backward walking (BW), a demanding locomotor task, has recently been investigated as both an assessment tool and a rehabilitation strategy in PD. The purpose of this focused systematic review is to analyse the benefits and limitations of retro walking in relation to the gait parameters and balance control of PD patients. Materials and Methods: A structured literature search (2015–2025) was conducted across multiple databases in accordance with PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis) guidelines. Eligibility criteria, screening procedures, and qualitative synthesis methods were predefined. Nine studies (including two randomized controlled trials) met the inclusion criteria. Methodological quality was assessed using PEDro and ROBINS-I tools, and the certainty of evidence was evaluated using GRADE. Results: The research results indicate within-group improvements in balance and gait parameters following BW training. Some of the included studies also suggest that BW may be a sensitive marker of balance deficits and fall risk. However, the evidence is limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneity of interventions, and a predominance of non-randomized designs. Conclusions: Current evidence regarding BW in PD remains preliminary. While BW may be considered as a supplementary component of rehabilitation, its specific efficacy cannot be clearly distinguished from general exercise effects. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials with standardized protocols and long-term follow-up are required. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Parkinson’s Disease: Advances in Pathological Insights and Therapeutic Innovations)
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