Topic: Genomic Pathways in Alzheimer's and Mood Disorders

Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mood disorders, including depression and bipolar disorder, represent major public health challenges worldwide, profoundly impacting cognitive function, emotional well-being, and quality of life. While traditionally studied as distinct entities, emerging evidence suggests overlapping genetic and molecular mechanisms may contribute to both conditions. Understanding these shared and divergent genomic pathways is crucial for identifying novel biomarkers, elucidating disease mechanisms, and developing targeted therapeutic strategies.

Recent advances in high-throughput genomic technologies, including whole-genome and transcriptome sequencing, epigenetic profiling, and single-cell omics, have dramatically expanded our knowledge of the genetic architecture underlying AD and mood disorders. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified multiple risk loci, while functional genomics approaches are beginning to clarify the roles of these variants in neural development, synaptic plasticity, neuroinflammation, and neurotransmitter regulation. Moreover, integrative analyses combining genomics with proteomics, metabolomics, and neuroimaging provide a systems-level understanding of disease pathways, offering new insights into comorbidity and progression.

This special issue aims to highlight cutting-edge research on the genomic mechanisms driving AD and mood disorders, with a focus on shared molecular pathways, novel risk variants, and functional consequences. Contributions exploring gene-environment interactions, epigenetic regulation, transcriptomic changes, and emerging therapeutic targets are especially welcome. By consolidating current knowledge and presenting innovative findings, this collection seeks to advance precision medicine approaches, improve early diagnosis, and guide the development of effective interventions for these complex neuropsychiatric conditions.

Alzheimer's disease, mood disorders, genomics, genetic pathways, epigenetics, neuroinflammation, precision medicine