Advances in CNS Reserves: Concepts, Mechanisms, Biomarkers and Therapeutic Potentials

The field of neuroscience has witnessed burgeoning interest in the concept of “reserve” within the central nervous system (CNS), particularly regarding its roles in resisting and compensating for neurodegenerative processes. Initially articulated in the context of Alzheimer’s disease, reserve refers to the brain’s intrinsic ability to withstand pathology without evident clinical symptoms and to adapt to aggressions. The definition has since expanded beyond Alzheimer’s to encompass disorders like Parkinson’s disease, stroke and cerebellar ataxias, acknowledging the dynamic interplay between neuroplasticity, compensation, and repair mechanisms. Despite exciting progress, including antibody-based interventions targeting amyloid deposition and advances in neurostimulation/neuromodulation, the mechanisms by which reserve capacity is maintained or bolstered remain incompletely understood. This knowledge gap is particularly pertinent as it hampers the development of precise therapies aimed at harnessing or enhancing reserve against diverse CNS disorders.This Research Topic aims to advance our understanding of CNS reserve by exploring novel therapeutic approaches that capitalize on the brain’s compensatory and reparative capabilities. Central objectives include elucidating both the physiological substrates and mathematical modeling of reserve within key CNS structures such as the cerebrum, basal ganglia, and cerebellum. The research will seek answers to fundamental questions regarding how these reserves can be recruited or activated through contemporary techniques like brain stimulation, neuromodulation, neurotransplantation, and genome editing. The ultimate goal is to inform the design of targeted interventions that facilitate functional recovery and mitigate disease progression across a spectrum of neurological conditions.To gather further insights into the breadth and limitations of CNS reserve mechanisms and their clinical implications, we welcome articles focusing on, but not limited to, the following themes: • Cellular and molecular underpinnings of reserve in neurodegenerative and neurovascular diseases• Physiological and computational models detailing reserve capacity at the cellular level in the CNS• Cellular biomarkers for evaluating and quantifying reserve and compensatory mechanisms in disease contexts• Innovative cellular and molecular therapeutic strategies to enhance or activate CNS reserve, including neuromodulation and cell-based approaches• Application of the reserve concept to atypical and emerging CNS pathologies from a cellular neuropathology perspective• Application of the reserve concepts in attempts to quantify the reserve using neuroimaging and neurophysiological tools• Evaluation of the reserve concepts in patients followed in neurology or psychiatry Topic editors: Mario U Manto, Shinji Kakei, Hirokazu Tanaka, Hiroshi Mitoma Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/78208/advances-in-cns-reserves-concepts-mechanisms-biomarkers-and-therapeutic-potentials