2025
Impact Factor
9.6
Impact Factor
9.6
Special Issue on Postmortem Research in Dementia: Bridging Neuropathology and Clinical Insight
Deadline: January 6, 2027.
Scope of the Special Issue
This special issue welcomes original research, reviews, and scholarly perspectives that advance the field through autopsy-based and postmortem approaches to dementia. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
1) Neuropathology of dementia — characterization of Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, and mixed/co-pathologies
2) Imaging and clinicopathological correlation — relating antemortem neuroimaging, clinical, cognitive, or blood biomarker data to postmortem neuropathological findings
3) Brain banking and tissue repositories — methods, standardization, and infrastructure for postmortem brain collection and study
4) Biomarker validation — In vivo clinical research on fluid (CSF/blood) or imaging biomarkers of dementia to guide postmortem histopathological investigation.
5) Molecular and cellular mechanisms — postmortem analysis of protein aggregation (tau, amyloid-β, α-synuclein, TDP-43), neuroinflammation, and synaptic loss
6) Genetic and epigenetic studies — postmortem tissue-based investigations of genetic risk factors and gene expression changes
7) Methodological advances — new techniques in neuropathological assessment, early in vivo imaging methods, digital pathology, or postmortem imaging
8) Health disparities — postmortem studies addressing underrepresented populations in dementia research
Guest Editor:
Yulin Ge, MD
Professor of Radiology
NYU
Grossman School of Medicine
Email: Yulin.Ge@nyulangone.org
Thomas Wisniewski, MD
Professor of Neurology, Pathology, Psychiatry
NYU Grossman School of Medicine, New York
Email. Thomas.Wisniewski@nyulangone.org
Hanzhang Lu, PhD
Professor of Radiology
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Maryland
Email: hlu3@jhmi.edu
Special Issue: Extracellular Vesicles in Aging Diseases: Biomarkers, Mechanisms, and Translational Therapies
Guest Editors
Prof. Su Huanxing, University of Macau, huanxingsu@um.edu.mo
Prof. Milen Georgiev, Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, milengeorgiev@gbg.bg
Dr. Zhong Zhangfeng, City University of Macau, zfzhong@cityu.edu.mo
Brief Introduction
Population aging has become a global public health challenge, accompanied by the high incidence of multiple aging-related diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular aging diseases, metabolic aging dysfunction, organ fibrosis, and age-related malignant tumors. Cellular senescence, intertissue signal disorder, inflammatory microenvironment imbalance, and impaired tissue repair are core pathological bases driving the occurrence and progression of aging diseases. Exploring the key regulatory molecules and intercellular communication mechanisms of aging pathology is the key to breaking through the early diagnosis, intervention and treatment bottlenecks of aging diseases.
As pervasive nanoscale bioactive vehicles, extracellular vesicles (EVs) govern intercellular and cross-kingdom signal transmission, which are categorized into animal-, microbiota- and plant-derived EVs (ADEVs, MDEVs and PDEVs). EVs are featuring excellent biosafety, ultra-low immunogenicity, high biocompatibility, and abundant bioactive cargoes including metabolites, proteins, miRNAs, and lipids. Capable of reversing cellular senescence, suppressing chronic sterile inflammation, ameliorating oxidative stress damage, tuning immune senescence and reconstructing pathological tissue microenvironments, they display exceptional prospects in preventing, intervening and rehabilitating neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular aging, aging-related metabolic disorders, senescent organ injuries and malignancies. Engineered EVs can realize targeted accumulation and accurate drug delivery, thereby significantly enhancing therapeutic efficacy and targeting specificity.
The core cargo molecules and precise molecular networks by which EVs alleviate multi-organ aging and various aging-related diseases need in-depth elucidation. In addition, standardized isolation, purification, activity evaluation and quality control systems for therapeutic-grade EVs are absent, and industrial scalable preparation, stability preservation and biosafety assessment systems urgently need improvement. Moreover, biomarkers of EVs remain poorly defined, posing an urgent obstacle to their isolation, functional research and practical applications.
This special issue, entitled Extracellular Vesicles in Aging Diseases: Biomarkers, Mechanisms, and Translational Therapies, aims to solicit high-quality original research and review articles focusing on the anti-aging effects of EVs. It systematically summarizes cutting-edge advances in EVs-based aging intervention, addresses scientific and technical bottlenecks hindering the translational application of EVs therapies, and establishes a specialized academic platform for global researchers in this field. It further promotes innovative progress and clinical industrial translation of natural nanotherapies against aging-related disorders.
Topics of Interest
This special issue welcomes all original and review studies related to vesicles and aging diseases. The research topics include but are not limited to:
1. Technical innovations for the isolation and purification of EVs
2. Biomarkers derived from EVs and comparative profiling
3. Biogenesis and cargo characteristics of therapeutic EVs
4. Identification and functional analysis for bioactive components of EVs
5. Safety profile and stability evaluation of therapeutic EVs
6. Immunomodulatory mechanisms of EVs in aging diseases
7. Targeted delivery and tissue enrichment mechanisms of therapeutic EVs
8. Engineering modification and functional remodeling of therapeutic EVs
9. EVs-based therapeutic strategies and translational application for aging diseases
10. Standardization in basic research and industrial translation of therapeutic EVs
11. Clinical research progress and bottlenecks of EVs-based aging therapy
12. Cross-kingdom therapeutic mechanisms of PDEVs for aging diseases
Important Dates
Special Issue: Muscle-Derived Extracellular Vesicles and Biomarkers in Aging: Mechanisms, Inter-Organ Communication, and Therapeutic Opportunities
Deadline: February 1, 2027
Aging is accompanied by progressive declines in skeletal muscle mass and function, and these changes contribute to frailty, metabolic dysfunction, impaired regeneration, and increased vulnerability to age-related diseases. Beyond its contractile role, skeletal muscle functions as an endocrine organ that communicates with distal tissues through secreted factors. Among these, extracellular vesicles (EVs) have emerged as particularly compelling mediators because they transport proteins, lipids, and nucleic acids that can alter gene expression and cellular behavior in recipient organs.
This Special Issue will focus on the emerging frontier of muscle-derived EVs and translational biomarkers in aging and age-related diseases. We are especially interested in studies that define how muscle EV cargo changes with aging, how these vesicles influence inter-organ communication, and how circulating EV signatures or muscle-derived secretory markers can be developed into biomarkers for sarcopenia, frailty, and other aging-related conditions. We also welcome translational studies that connect mechanistic findings to preclinical or clinical applications, including exercise, nutrition, and metabolic interventions that modulate muscle-derived signaling.
By narrowing the scope to EV biology, biomarker discovery, and translational signaling pathways, this Special Issue aims to highlight a clearer frontier in aging research and to encourage submissions with strong mechanistic and clinical relevance.
Suggested thematic areas
1. 1) Muscle-derived extracellular vesicles in aging and disease
2. 2) EV cargo as biomarkers of sarcopenia, frailty, and biological aging
3. 3) Translational muscle secretome signaling and inter-organ communication
4. 4) EV-mediated regulation of metabolism, inflammation, and tissue repair
5. 5) Exercise, nutrition, and other interventions that modulate muscle EV output
6. 6) Preclinical and clinical studies linking muscle-derived signals to healthspan
Guest Editor
Dr. Hong-Wen Tang
Affiliation: Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore
Email: hongwen.tang@duke-nus.edu.sg
Dr. Alfredo Franco-Obregón
Affiliation: National University of Singapore, Singapore
Email: afo@nus.edu.sg
Special Issue Title: New Technologies and Advances in Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Deadline: June 1, 2026
Aging and neurodegenerative diseases are among the most significant healthcare challenges of the 21st century, affecting millions worldwide and placing substantial strain on healthcare systems. As global populations age, the prevalence of conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and other neurodegenerative disorders continues to increase, creating an urgent need for innovative approaches to prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. This special issue, New Technologies and Advances in Aging and Neurodegenerative Diseases, aims to showcase groundbreaking advancements that are transforming our understanding and management of these complex conditions.
Through this collection, we aim to gather research on transformative technologies that have the potential to reshape the landscape of neurodegenerative disease treatment and improve the quality of life for aging populations. We are particularly interested in the following areas, though submissions are not limited to these topics: applications of Artificial Intelligence (AI), wearable technology and digital health platforms, the microbiota-gut-brain axis, and innovative intervention therapies targeting mitochondrial function, neuroinflammation, and neuroimmunology.
The editors welcome submissions of Original Research, Reviews, Mini-reviews, Opinion, and Perspective related to this topic. We look forward to your contributions that provide new insights and foster further exploration in this critical area of study.
Guest Editor
Huanxing Su, PhD, Professor
Affiliation: Institute of Chinese Medical Science, University of Macau, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
Email: huanxingsu@um.edu.mo
Evandro Fei Fang, PhD, Professor
B103.081 (Building B1, 3rd floor, room 081) Akershus University Hospital, 1478 L?renskog, Emails: evandrofeifang@yahoo.com; e.f.fang@medisin.uio.no
Yiying Zhang, MD, PhD
Assistant
Professor of Anesthesia
Department of Anesthesia, Critical Care and Pain Medicine
Massachusetts General Hospital & Harvard Medical School
Email: yzhang37@mgh.harvard.edu
Special Issue: New highlights on contributions of glial cells in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
Deadline: June 1, 2026
Reactive gliosis, microglial activation, and altered oligodendrocyte differentiation/maturation are both a physiological response to insults, as well as contributors to age-related cognitive dysfunction and neurodegenerative diseases. Investigation of glial cell (astrocytes, microglia, oligodendrocytes, etc.) function and transformation in brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases is a rapidly expanding field. Recent insights on glial communication and contributors, such as astrocyte reactivity, provide a strong basis to explore novel mechanisms driving neuronal and cognitive phenotypes. In addition, the advancement of new research tools, many with individual cell resolution, made important contributions to our improved understanding about glial biology in the brain. This special issue calls for submissions that highlight new findings related to changes of glial cellular metabolisms, transcriptomes, and functions in aging and neurodegenerative diseases.
We invite integrative reviews, commentaries, and perspectives that include:
· Glial-structure and -omics contributions
· Heterogeneity of glial populations, spatial and temporal contributions
· Energy metabolism (glucose, fatty acid, mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation, etc.)
· Regulation of cellular uptake (neurotransmitters, glucose, lactate, APP/Aβ)
· Cell-cell interactions (astrocytes, endothelial cells, microglia, neurons, oligodendrocytes, etc.)
· Astrocytes at the BBB
· Sex-dependent activation of glial cells
· Astrocytic control of neuronal activity: astro-neuro interaction
· Senescence and neuroinflammatory response
Guest-editors
Dr. Sreemathi Logan, PhD, The University of Oklahoma Health Sciences, Oklahoma, USA. Email: Sreemathi-Logan@ouhsc.edu
Dr. Maite Solas, PhD, The University of Navarra. Pamplona, Spain. Email: msolaszu@unav.es
Dr. Dandan Sun, MD/PhD, the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. Email: sund@upmc.edu
Special Issue: Brain-Peripheral Organ Crosstalk in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Pathways, Mechanisms, and Therapeutic Opportunities.
Deadline: August 1, 2026
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), are leading causes of disability and mortality in aging populations, yet effective therapies remain elusive. In the last few years, research on neurodegenerative, neuroimmunological, and neuroinflammmatory mechanisms of disease has examined more than just mechanisms within the brain; it has broadened to include the interactions between central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral organs (gut, liver, immune system, skeletal muscle) as important determinants of disease progression. It has become clear these interactions in the brain and peripheral organs of the body can take place through processes discussed previously, from neurotransmission that includes the gut-brain axis, to immune signaling, metabolism and that all of these are impacted by aging, which will provide new targets for therapy. Research pathways with natural products and nutraceuticals, like curcumin or microbial metabolites, will continue to gain traction.
Over the past decade, research has increasingly acknowledged brain-peripheral organ crosstalk as an important contributor to neurodegeneration. Additionally, peripheral immune dysregulation in inflammatory responses (specifically cytokine storms) and T-cell senescence have been demonstrated to accelerate neuronal loss in neurodegeneration such as Parkinson's Disease and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis. Furthermore, there are emerging studies showing age-related deficits in metabolic crosstalk such as liver-brain connections that contribute to amyloid clearance which ultimately is a risk factor for the progression of disease. Natural compounds i.e. resveratrol and omega-3 fatty acids, have shown promise in ameliorating these dysregulated pathways as a therapeutic intervention. There are, however, distinct gaps that still exist. Very few studies have explored how age-related alterations in peripheral organs like skeletal muscle or adipose tissue can modulate CNS aging processes. And while there is an emerging landscape of natural compounds, even in human studies their impact has not been consistently translated to the clinical population in detailed analyses, requiring a stronger emphasis on preclinical data and the need for rigorous translational studies. This Special Issue aims to address these gaps by encouraging research that maps multi-organ pathways, validates targets for therapeutic inhibitors, and connects preclinical with clinical findings.
The specific research areas that may be explored in this special issue will include but not limited are given below-
1) Importance of Gut-Brain Axis in context of Aging: The role of microbial metabolites and dysbiosis on neuroinflammation/neurodegeneration.
2) Immune- CNS Crosstalk: Importance of Age-related immune dysregulation (cytokines, T-cell senescence) affecting AD, PD, ALS.
3) Metabolic Interactions: Role of Liver or adipose tissue-brain signaling on amyloid, tau, or neuronal metabolism associated with aging.
4) Autophagy and Proteostasis: The decline in autophagy related to aging across multiple organs and when modulated by nutraceuticals
5) Vascular Effects: Blood-brain barrier dysfunction and age-related peripheral vascular manifestations in neurodegeneration
6) Therapeutic Approaches: Natural product-based interventions (curcumin, quercetin, omega-3s) to change crosstalk pathways
7) Experimental Models: invertebrate, rodents, or organoids to investigate age- and multi-organ interactions
8) Clinical and translational studies: Human studies, and/or preclinical trials studying potential interventions for aging-related neurodegeneration.
Guest Editors
Dr. Sandeep Kumar Singh
Affiliation: All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur, India.
Email: sandeeps.bhu@gmail.com
Dr. George Perry,
University of Texas at San Antonio, USA
Email: george.perry@utsa.edu
Dr. Burkhard Poeggeler
Department of Physiology, Johann-Friedrich-Blumenbach-Institute for Zoology and Anthropology, Faculty of Biology Georg August University G?ttingen, G?ttingen and Goettingen Research Campus, D-38524 Sassenburg, Germany,
Email: bpoegge@gwdg.de
Special Issue: Targeting Aging Mechanisms in Neurodegenerative Disease
Deadline: August 1, 2026
Aging is the strongest risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). While research has traditionally focused on disease-specific mechanisms, growing evidence highlights the role of fundamental aging processes—including mitochondrial dysfunction, impaired proteostasis, genomic instability, and chronic inflammation—in driving neurodegeneration. Understanding and targeting these shared aging pathways may provide transformative therapeutic opportunities across multiple disorders.
This Research Topic aims to explore how modulating core aging mechanisms can be harnessed as a therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases. Rather than focusing solely on disease-specific targets, we highlight approaches that intervene in common biological processes such as oxidative stress, DNA damage, cellular senescence, and altered proteostasis. Advances in transcriptomics, systems biology, and single-cell technologies are now enabling deeper insights into how aging accelerates neurodegenerative pathology and how these pathways may be manipulated to delay disease onset or progression.
We invite contributions that span basic, translational, and clinical research addressing aging-driven neurodegeneration. Topics may include metabolic and epigenetic regulators of aging, pharmacological or genetic interventions that modulate aging pathways, and innovative therapeutic strategies such as gene or RNA-based therapies. This collection will be of interest to researchers aiming to bridge the fields of aging and neurodegeneration and to those seeking broad-impact interventions that go beyond disease-specific frameworks.
We invite contributions that investigate fundamental aging mechanisms in
neurodegeneration and potential therapeutic interventions. Submissions may
include original research, reviews, mini reviews and methodological papers
covering topics such as:
· Mitochondrial dysfunction and bioenergetic decline in neurodegenerative diseases.
· Proteostasis, autophagy, and unfolded protein response as therapeutic targets.
· Epigenetic and transcriptional regulation of aging and neurodegeneration.
· DNA damage and repair mechanisms in aging-related neurodegeneration.
· RNA dysfunction and its impact on neuronal aging and disease progression.
· Inflammatory and immune system contributions to neurodegeneration.
· Pharmacological and genetic interventions targeting aging processes.
· Novel biomarker development for aging-related neurodegenerative disease progression.
· We encourage interdisciplinary studies that integrate systems biology, multi-omics approaches, and translational neuroscience to advance the understanding and treatment of neurodegenerative diseases through the lens of aging research.
Guest Editor(s)
Dr. Sina Shadfar
Research Fellow, MND research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie University, Sydney Australia. Email: sina.shadfar@mq.edu.au
Dr. Sayanthooran Saravanabavan
Research Fellow, MND research Centre, Macquarie Medical School, Macquarie
University, Sydney Australia. Email: sayanthooran.saravanabavan@mq.edu.au