Neurodegenerative diseases as diverse as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, multiple sclerosis, stroke, depression, and Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease are thought to share a common pathogenetic mechanism—the aggregation and deposition of misfolded proteins—, which leads to progressive central nervous system impairments. The World Health Organization estimates that, by 2040, neurodegenerative diseases will surpass cancer as the principal cause of death in industrialized countries. Neuroimaging techniques provide an avenue to complement our understanding of the wide-ranging neurobiological changes of neurodegenerative diseases in the elderly population and assist in developing both diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers that can predict which individuals are relatively more likely to progress clinically.

We invite investigators to contribute original research articles as well as review articles that will stimulate the continuing efforts in understanding and promoting neuroimaging studies (i.e., fMRI, PET, and EEG/MEG) into the mechanisms underlying neurodegenerative diseases in humans. In addition, recent studies suggest that complementary and alternative medicine methods such as acupuncture are a potential candidate for the preventative treatment of the disorders. We are particularly interested in research that emphasizes the effects of acupuncture on neurodegenerative disease and that uncovers the neural modulatory mechanisms contributing to its therapeutic effect. The topics on the latest innovative methods to enhance our understanding of neurodegenerative disease are also especially welcomed. Potential topics include, but are not limited to:

• Advances in revealing acting targets for treating neurodegenerative disorders
• Combining neuroimaging techniques and acupuncture in prevention and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders
• Methodological and technical research to quantify the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disease
• Brain connectomics in neurodegenerative disease
• Current and prospective strategies of acupuncture for combating neurodegenerative disorders

Before submission authors should carefully read over the journal’s Author Guidelines, which are located at http://www.hindawi.com/journals/bmri/guidelines/. Prospective authors should submit an electronic copy of their complete manuscript through the journal Manuscript Tracking System at http://mts.hindawi.com/submit/journals/bmri/molecular.imaging/ind/ according to the following timetable: