Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias (ADRD) pose an escalating global public health challenge, with increasing demand for earlier, more accurate diagnosis to enable timely intervention and tailored care. Relying solely on clinical diagnosis can lead to misclassification in up to one-third of cases, underscoring the urgent need for objective biomarkers.

Recent advances in neuroimaging have significantly deepened our understanding of ADRD pathophysiology and opened new avenues for biomarker discovery. Modalities such as multi-modal structural MRI, functional MRI, and PET imaging (targeting amyloid, tau, and glucose metabolism) are now routinely used in research and increasingly considered in clinical practice. In parallel, novel techniques—including quantitative susceptibility mapping (QSM) and ultra-high-field MRI—offer promising insights into microstructural and biochemical brain changes. These imaging approaches are not only instrumental in detecting early pathological changes but also hold value in differentiating among dementia subtypes and complementing emerging fluid biomarkers.

This Research Topic aims to showcase innovative research on the development, validation, and clinical translation of neuroimaging biomarkers in ADRD.

By bringing together state-of-the-art work across disciplines, this Research Topic will provide a platform to highlight recent advances and identify ongoing challenges and opportunities for integrating neuroimaging biomarkers into routine diagnostic pathways. We aim to foster collaboration among neuroscientists, clinicians, imaging experts, and data scientists to accelerate progress toward personalised and precise diagnostic strategies in dementia care.

We invite original research articles, systematic reviews, and perspective pieces that address key dimensions of imaging-based diagnosis, including:

- Multimodal imaging and integration with fluid biomarkers (e.g., CSF, plasma)

- Application of machine learning and AI for diagnostic and prognostic modelling

- Cross-cohort validation studies and real-world clinical implementation

- Longitudinal imaging to monitor disease progression and treatment response

- Imaging biomarkers for stratifying patients in trials of disease-modifying therapies

We encourage submissions that address a broad spectrum of conditions under the ADRD umbrella, including Alzheimer’s disease, frontotemporal dementia, Dementia with Lewy Body, vascular cognitive impairment, and cases with mixed or co-pathologies. Contributions focused on diverse populations, underrepresented groups, and health systems integration are particularly welcome.

Are you interested in contributing a manuscript to this Research Topic?

Neuroimaging Biomarkers for Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD)