Topic: Metabolic Disorders and Cognitive Dysfunction: Mechanisms, Clinical Evidence, and Therapeutic Perspectives

Background and Rationale:

Metabolic disorders, including obesity, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), represent a major global health challenge. Compelling evidence indicates that these conditions are also significant risk factors for cognitive dysfunction, ranging from mild cognitive impairment to dementia. Notably, most patients with diabetes-associated cognitive dysfunction (DACD) remain asymptomatic in the early stages. As the global prevalence of metabolic diseases continues to rise, understanding their role in accelerating cognitive decline is crucial to the development of preventive approaches and the identification of novel therapeutic strategies. This Special Issue aims to examine shared pathological mechanisms, synthesize emerging clinical evidence, and explore integrative therapeutic approaches to addressing this interconnected metabolic-cognitive health challenge.

Objectives

This Special Issue aims to:

● Highlight the latest research on the pathophysiological mechanisms linking metabolic dysregulation to brain pathology;

● Explore diagnostic challenges and potential biomarkers for the early detection of cognitive impairment in metabolically compromised individuals;

● Evaluate current and emerging therapeutic strategies, including pharmacological and lifestyle interventions, that target both metabolic and cognitive health;

● Foster multidisciplinary collaboration among endocrinologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, cardiologists, geriatricians, hepatologists, general practitioners, pharmacologists, caregivers,researchers, and other stakeholders to advance research and clinical practice in thisfield.

Topics Covered

Topics of interest include:

● Epidemiological evidencelinking specific metabolic disorders to cognitive outcomes;

● Mechanistic insights into the roles of insulin resistance, inflammation, vascular dysfunction, MASLD, and mitochondrial failure in brainpathology;

● Clinical evidence from observational and interventional studies;

● Prevention and treatment strategies, including novel pharmacological targets, dietary approaches, and physical activity;

● Challenges in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of cognitive decline in patients with metabolic comorbidities;

● Applications of advanced neuroimaging techniques and biomarker assessments.

Target Audience

This Special Issue is intended for a broad multidisciplinary readership, including endocrinologists, diabetologists, neurologists, psychiatrists, geriatricians, hepatologists, cardiologists, nutritionists, clinical and pharmaceutical researchers, public health professionals, and primary care physicians involved in addressing the dual burden of metabolic dysfunction and cognitive impairment.