The Role of the Cerebellum in Neurocognitive Disorders

The cerebellum, historically linked only to motor control, is now recognized as a vital hub for executive function, emotion, and social cognition. Through dense, reciprocal loops, the cerebellum connects with prefrontal, temporal, and parietal areas to modulate thinking and attention. Disruptions in these networks contribute to several neurocognitive disorders. These include Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, vascular dementia, and mixed cognitive decline.Yet, we still do not fully understand structural, functional, and metabolic changes in specific cerebellar subregions. We also need to map how these changes manifest in patients. Advanced imaging tools like positron emission tomography (PET), multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and quantitative radiomics can map these alterations in vivo. They connect subtle cerebellar pathology with network dysconnectivity and cognitive decline. Studying these links helps us find early disease markers. It also helps us understand neuropsychiatric symptoms in older adults. These insights are crucial for developing better diagnostic and therapeutic pathways. These findings will expand our understanding of how the hindbrain supports complex cognitive processes.This Research Topic aims to collect outstanding, multidisciplinary research on how the cerebellum affects neurocognitive disorders. We want to clarify how the cerebellum influences cognitive decline and the behavioral symptoms of dementia (BPSD) in older populations. By combining imaging, clinical psychiatry, and translational neuroscience, we plan to identify reliable cerebellar biomarkers. These biomarkers will aid early diagnosis, staging, and monitoring.Ultimately, we want to show how structural and functional cerebro-cerebellar dysconnectivity drives cognitive loss. This collection will connect basic cerebellar science with daily clinical practice. It will help researchers design targeted therapies, optimize care strategies, and improve diagnostic tools for patients with neurodegenerative and psychiatric diseases. We hope to inspire clinical trials that target these pathways. We encourage contributions that explore how these cerebellar changes impact patient quality of life and caregiver burden.We welcome original research, systematic reviews, clinical trials, and mini-reviews. Submissions should focus on the following key areas:o Anatomical and physiological correlates of cerebellar dysfunction in neurocognitive disorders, with emphasis on cerebro-cerebellar connectivity, neural circuitry, and their role in cognition and behavior.o Neurobiological correlates of cerebellar dysfunction, focusing on neurotransmitter systems and synaptic plasticity with their contribution to cognitive decline and neuropsychiatric symptoms in neurocognitive disorders.o Characterization of Crossed Cerebellar Diaschisis (CCD) and its metabolic and functional impact on cognitive decline in dementia using PET, MRI, and hybrid PET/MRI.o Quantitative neuroimaging methods (like voxel-based morphometry, diffusion tensor imaging, and functional connectivity) to map cerebellar degeneration and network dysconnectivity.o Cerebellar contributions to neuropsychiatric symptomatology in neurocognitive disorders, focusing on Behavioural and Psychological Symptoms in Dementia, executive dysfunction, and behavioral dysregulation in geriatric population.o Radiomics and artificial intelligence-driven analysis of cerebellar imaging data to discover diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for neurocognitive disorders.o Longitudinal studies tracking cerebellar atrophy and its correlation with cognitive decline across different stages of mild cognitive impairment and dementia.o Innovative therapeutic strategies targeting cerebellar pathways, including pharmacological interventions, non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (such as transcranial magnetic stimulation [TMS] and transcranial direct current stimulation [tDCS]), and other non-pharmacological approaches for the management of cognitive, behavioral, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in neurocognitive disorders. Topic editors: Shailendra Mohan Tripathi, Durgesh K Dwivedi, NAIF ALI A MAJRASHI, Alison D. Murray Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/83225/the-role-of-the-cerebellum-in-neurocognitive-disorders