Aims and Scope
International Journal of Multiple Sclerosis and Related Disorders (JSC) publishes original research, systematic reviews, and clinical studies advancing the understanding, diagnosis, and treatment of multiple sclerosis and related demyelinating disorders of the central nervous system.
Core Research Domains
Multiple Sclerosis Pathophysiology
- Demyelination and remyelination mechanisms
- Axonal degeneration and neurodegeneration
- Blood-brain barrier dysfunction
- Oligodendrocyte biology and myelin repair
- Mitochondrial dysfunction in MS
- Oxidative stress and neuroinflammation
Neuroimmunology and Autoimmunity
- T-cell and B-cell mediated immunity in MS
- Cytokine networks and inflammatory cascades
- Autoantibody profiles and biomarkers
- Innate immune responses in CNS inflammation
- Microglial activation and polarization
- Immune tolerance and regulatory mechanisms
Diagnosis and Biomarker Discovery
- Advanced MRI techniques and imaging biomarkers
- Cerebrospinal fluid analysis and protein markers
- Optical coherence tomography in MS
- Serum biomarkers for disease activity
- Neurophysiological assessments and evoked potentials
- Molecular and genetic biomarkers
Therapeutic Interventions
- Disease-modifying therapies (DMTs) efficacy and safety
- Immunomodulatory and immunosuppressive agents
- Monoclonal antibodies and B-cell targeted therapies
- Sphingosine-1-phosphate receptor modulators
- Stem cell and regenerative therapies
- Symptomatic management strategies
Secondary Focus Areas
Related Demyelinating Disorders
Neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorders (NMOSD), acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM), transverse myelitis, optic neuritis, clinically isolated syndrome (CIS), and radiologically isolated syndrome (RIS).
Epidemiology and Risk Factors
Genetic susceptibility (HLA-DRB1 and non-HLA variants), environmental triggers (EBV, vitamin D, smoking), geographic distribution, and gene-environment interactions in MS etiology.
Disease Progression and Phenotypes
Relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), primary progressive MS (PPMS), secondary progressive MS (SPMS), relapse patterns, disability accumulation, and prognostic modeling.
Cognitive and Neuropsychological Aspects
Cognitive impairment profiles, information processing speed deficits, memory dysfunction, depression and anxiety comorbidities, quality of life assessments, and cognitive rehabilitation strategies.
Rehabilitation and Symptom Management
Physical therapy interventions, occupational therapy, speech and swallowing therapy, fatigue management, spasticity treatment, pain management, bladder and bowel dysfunction, and mobility aids.
Pediatric and Pregnancy-Related MS
Pediatric-onset MS (POMS), pregnancy effects on disease activity, postpartum relapse risk, breastfeeding considerations with DMTs, and family planning in MS patients.
Emerging Research Frontiers
Explicitly Out of Scope
We Do NOT Consider
- General Neurology Without MS Focus: Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, epilepsy, stroke, or other neurological conditions unless directly compared with MS or relevant to differential diagnosis of demyelinating disorders.
- Non-CNS Autoimmune Diseases: Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, inflammatory bowel disease, or other autoimmune conditions without direct CNS demyelination or mechanistic relevance to MS pathophysiology.
- Basic Immunology Without MS Context: General T-cell or B-cell biology, cytokine studies, or immune mechanism research that lacks explicit connection to MS, NMOSD, or related demyelinating disorders.
- Peripheral Nervous System Disorders: Guillain-Barré syndrome, chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP), or other peripheral neuropathies unless discussed in the context of differential diagnosis from CNS demyelination.
- Pure Methodology Papers: Statistical methods, imaging techniques, or laboratory protocols without application to MS-specific research questions or validation in MS patient cohorts.
Article Types and Editorial Priorities
Priority 1: Fast-Track Review Expedited
High-impact contributions with potential to advance clinical practice or fundamental understanding of MS pathophysiology.
Priority 2: Standard Review Standard
Valuable contributions to the MS literature with solid methodology and clear clinical or research implications.
Rarely Considered Selective
Accepted only if presenting exceptional novelty, rare phenotypes, or significant educational value not available elsewhere.
Editorial Standards and Requirements
Reporting Guidelines
- CONSORT for randomized controlled trials
- STROBE for observational studies
- PRISMA for systematic reviews
- ARRIVE for animal research
- STARD for diagnostic accuracy studies
- CARE for case reports
Data and Ethics Policies
- Data availability statements required
- Ethics approval documentation mandatory
- Informed consent for human subjects
- Clinical trial registration (ICMJE standards)
- Conflict of interest disclosure
- Funding source transparency
Preprint and Prior Publication
- Preprints on recognized servers accepted
- Conference abstracts do not preclude submission
- No prior publication in peer-reviewed journals
- Translations require original publisher permission
- Duplicate submission prohibited
Peer Review Process
- Double-blind peer review
- Minimum two independent reviewers
- Statistical review for quantitative studies
- Ethics review when applicable
- Post-publication peer review enabled
