Editorial: Translational advances in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and other dementia: molecular mechanisms, biomarkers, diagnosis, and therapies, volume III
Year: 2024
Type: editorial
Abstract: This Research Topic (RT) is a series continuation of the previous 2 prominent RTs, Volume I [1] and Volume II [2] that were both published in 2022, each of which reviewed 69 and 57 articles, respectively. Volume III is the latest assemblage on the broad topic and comprises 41 globally sourced articles that contributed significant updates from diverse viewpoints on this important theme between 2022 and 2023. In total, 362 authors, including researcher scientists and clinicians, who were actively engaged in the field, contributed to these studies.The ability to detect neurodegenerative dementia at an early stage continues to receive increased attention. Common etiologies include Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), and vascular dementia (VD) [3][4][5] . Study results have shown that changes in the underlying molecular biology of such cognitive impairment are associated with dementia. Recently, research studies have demonstrated that molecular imaging techniques can capture small alternations in patients with dementia. Improvements in biotechnologies, such as primarily positron emission tomography (PET) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), continue to demonstrate molecular imaging techniques that capture the small alterations and events in patients with dementia [6,7] . Moreover, artificial intelligence is emerging as a critical tool in bioinformatics research [8,9] . However, detection of AD and other dementias in their "early phase" remains a challenge in the current standard of care.To address such, the articles contained within this Volume are categorized into sections based on their underlying disciplinary approach that seeks to identify and/or treat dementias. Leiros M et al. reported that higher serum levels of vitamin A, vitamin D, transthyretin (TTR), albumin, selenium (Se), and uric acid (UA) could act as protective factors against cognitive decline based on multiple logistic regression, whereas higher body mass index (BMI) could act as a risk factor (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.880405). Chen Y-T et al. combined plasma α-synuclein level and Motor Dysfunction Questionnaire (MDQ) to discriminate between dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and AD (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.920591). Wu L et al. used an engineered tau fragment 4RCF as substrate to investigate misfolded tau from diseased AD and other tauopathy brains and were able to seed the recombinant 4RCF substrate. Their conclusion from the data was that it may be useful as a biomarker for the diagnosis of AD and related tau lesions (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.945875). In a study performed by Nardini M et al., utilizing the mechanical characteristics of red blood cells, they used a standard linear solid model that was found to demonstrate excellent classifications for determining AD (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.932354). Lu W et al. used different mouse models to find that similar pathogenic features in aging, AD, and perioperative neurocognitive disorder (PND) from dysregulation of protein kinase C (PKC)/protein kinase (PKR) activity may be related to its pathogenesis (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.973068). Based on the Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) database, Sheng Z-H et al. found that concentration and changes of Neurofilament light chain protein (NfL) in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) could be used to identify cognitive progress in PD patients (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1061096).Chen D et al. surveyed significant changes in the vitamin profile in multiple system atrophy (MSA). The results from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves suggested that vitamin A, folate, and vitamin C could discriminate between MSA and normal controls (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1105019). Yang J et al. applied high-resolution mass spectrometry to detect metabolites in AD plasma samples, wherein they found significant fluctuations in the levels of plasma metabolites, PAGln and L-arginine in the AD group (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1189659). Using 6 datasets derived from AD frontal cortex samples, Jin B et al. employed a combination of bioinformatics analysis and machine learning (ML) to screen out thioredoxin interaction protein (TXNIP), early growth Response 1 (EGR1), and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 5 (IGFBP5), as diagnostic markers for AD (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1169620). HeB et al. evaluated the gut microbiota-brain-cognition interaction, wherein their findings suggested that there is an intrinsic association between gut microbiota changes, brain atrophy, and cognitive decline (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1216509). Collins JM et al. determined a positive association between plasma NfL levels measured by single molecule array technology and cognitive decline with aging. They suggested that although NfL level was associated with cognitive decline, it did not mediate the relationship between age and cognition (DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1237284). Khachatryan E focused on the inclusion of a cognitive task during the Gamma ENtrainment Using Sensory stimulation (GENUS) session. Their results proved that the inclusion had a positive effect on strength and extent of the gamma entrainment, followed by an improvement in the therapeutic effect of GENUS (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1010765). Zhou Z et al. performed cluster analysis in a cohort of 1,217 individuals with early-onset PD and identified 3 clinical subtypes (mild, intermediate, and severe) (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1040293). Wan M et al. specified that Baduanjin exercise was effective in improving cognition (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.956273). Kainuma M et al. reported that the increase of plasma metabolite levels after 6 months of hachimijiogan (HJG) administration was significantly higher than that of the control group (DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1203349).Mei X et al. investigated the effects of bright light therapy (BLT) on AD patients and caregivers. Their study showed that there was an inhibitory effect of BLT on depression (DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2023.1235406). Lin T-H et al. proposed a prospective, observational cohort study to determine the effects of BLT on migraine patients with sleep disorders (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1041076).There are several reviews included in this section. Huang J et al. reviewed the work related to PD and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and they found that PD with SCD occurred with metabolic changes to the brain (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1117068). Regmi S et al. discussed the strategies and limitations of using mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (MSCs) therapy for AD (DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.1011225). Subramanian A et al. described the different mechanisms and signaling regulations highlighting the trilateral association of autophagy, the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway, and AD with a description of inhibiting drugs/molecules of mTOR, a strategic target in AD (DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2022.1094351). Peng Y et al. investigated the bottlenecks in utilizing therapeutic strategies towards AD, wherein they focused on anti-Aβ, antitau drugs, and mitochondrial targeted therapy to suggest future directions for AD drug therapies (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1206572).Li G et al. conducted a network meta-analysis that aimed to evaluate the efficacy of acupuncture in animal models of VD, which provided evidence that acupuncture significantly improved cognitive function in rats with VD (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.952181). Another meta-analysis was conducted by Song Y et al. to show the effects of D-ribose on cognition in rodents. They summarized the outcomes of 8 trials involving 289 rodents and conducted a systematic review. The results of their study identified D-ribose therapy as a cause of cognitive impairment with cognitive ability worsening with increasing dose (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1036315). Bian J et al. conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to estimate the diagnostic value of image-based ML for PD. The findings from their paper suggested that image-based ML can be used as a potential tool for PD diagnosis (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1199826). As synaptic plasticity disorders play key roles in AD, Zhang Y et al. implemented a bibliometric analysis to gain insights into how systematic synaptic plasticity affects progress of AD (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1234719).Chen T-Y et al. conducted a retrospective analysis and rated white matter hyperintensities (WMHs) visual scores on 449 patients with DLB. This study obtained the useful information that WMHs were associated with cognitive impairment (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.935652). Zhou X et al. conducted a longitudinal study that enrolled 2,100 PD subjects and demonstrated that fatigue may be a risk factor for increased disease severity (DOI: 10.3389/fnagi.2023.1133705).As a conclusion, a portion of articles in this RT focus on application of bioinformatics and computational biology, such as those studies discussing disease susceptibility genes. In addition, several researchers used molecular methods, novel imaging techniques, and imaging analysis to explore biomarkers. There are other novel clinical treatments in this subject area that have not been covered. Multidisciplinary perspectives facilitate and improve our understanding of such disease mechanisms. By doing so, we have been able to identify novel potential biomarkers and treatment targets.
Source: Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience
Language: English
Subfield: Physiology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
Estimated APC paid: $3,295
OpenAlex ID: W4390665652