Aims & Scope
Core Research Domains
Molecular Pathophysiology
- Amyloid-beta aggregation mechanisms and oligomer toxicity
- Tau phosphorylation cascades and neurofibrillary tangle formation
- Protein misfolding dynamics and prion-like propagation
- Synaptic dysfunction and plasticity impairment mechanisms
- Mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress pathways
- Neuroinflammatory signaling and microglial activation
"Novel post-translational modifications of tau protein regulate its aggregation propensity through conformational changes in the microtubule-binding domain"
Cellular Mechanisms & Pathways
- Autophagy-lysosomal pathway dysfunction in protein clearance
- Endoplasmic reticulum stress and unfolded protein response
- Calcium dysregulation and excitotoxicity mechanisms
- Axonal transport deficits and cytoskeletal disruption
- Blood-brain barrier breakdown at cellular level
- Neuronal-glial interactions in disease progression
"Impaired autophagosome-lysosome fusion in neurons expressing mutant presenilin-1 leads to accumulation of toxic protein aggregates"
Molecular Genetics & Genomics
- Genetic risk factors and pathogenic mutations (APP, PSEN1, PSEN2, APOE)
- Epigenetic modifications in disease susceptibility
- Gene expression profiling and transcriptomic analysis
- Non-coding RNA regulation of disease pathways
- Genome-wide association studies identifying novel loci
- Proteomics and post-translational modification mapping
"Single-cell RNA sequencing reveals distinct transcriptional signatures in vulnerable neuronal populations during early pathology"
Biomarkers & Disease Models
- Fluid biomarkers (CSF, blood) for pathological processes
- Molecular imaging targets for disease mechanisms
- Transgenic and knock-in animal models
- Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived models
- Organoid systems for mechanistic investigation
- In vitro models of protein aggregation and toxicity
"Development of a novel PET tracer targeting oligomeric tau species to track early pathological changes in mouse models"
Secondary Focus Areas
Neurochemistry & Neuropharmacology
Neurotransmitter system alterations, receptor dysfunction, cholinergic pathway degeneration mechanisms, and molecular targets for mechanistic understanding of disease progression.
Neuroimaging Correlates
Structural and functional imaging findings that correlate with molecular pathology, including atrophy patterns linked to specific protein aggregates and network dysfunction mechanisms.
Comparative Neurodegeneration
Mechanistic comparisons with related disorders (frontotemporal dementia, Lewy body dementia, vascular contributions) to identify shared and distinct pathophysiological pathways.
Environmental & Lifestyle Factors
Molecular mechanisms by which environmental exposures, traumatic brain injury, diet, and lifestyle factors influence disease pathways and protein aggregation processes.
Emerging Research Frontiers
Article Types & Editorial Priorities
Fast-Track
Novel mechanistic findings, comprehensive pathway analyses, innovative methodologies for studying disease mechanisms. Target decision: 21 days.
Standard Track
Preliminary mechanistic findings, datasets with mechanistic relevance, forward-looking analyses of pathophysiological concepts. Target decision: 35 days.
CONSIDERED
Only accepted if they provide exceptional mechanistic insights or challenge fundamental understanding of disease pathways. Most submissions in these categories are desk-rejected.
Editorial Standards & Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
- ARRIVE 2.0 for animal studies
- MIQE for qPCR experiments
- PRISMA for systematic reviews
- STROBE for observational studies with biomarkers
- Minimum information standards for omics data
Data & Reproducibility
- Raw data deposition in public repositories
- Detailed protocols for novel methodologies
- Statistical analysis plans and code availability
- Biological replicates clearly specified
- Validation of key findings in independent cohorts
Ethics & Compliance
- Institutional review board approval for human samples
- IACUC approval for animal research
- Informed consent documentation
- Biosafety and biosecurity protocols
- Conflict of interest disclosure
Preprint & Prior Publication
- Preprints encouraged and accepted
- Conference abstracts do not preclude submission
- No prior publication of core findings
- Preprint DOI must be disclosed at submission
- Transparent reporting of overlapping work
