European Journal of Neurodegenerative Diseases adheres to the formatting rules defined by the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE).
Submission categories include the following:
Original Article
Clinical Trial
Case report/Case Series
Systematic Review and Meta-Analyses
Narrative Review
Clinical Review
Letter to the Editor
Observational Study
Retrospective Observational Study
Cohort Study
Original Articles
Details new empirical research, clinical trials, or observational studies.
Allowed up to 4,000 words with a structured 250-word abstract.
Structural Requirements
Introduction: Clear statement of the research problem, existing gaps in knowledge, and a specific hypothesis or objective.
Methods: Detailed description of study design, setting, participant criteria (inclusion/exclusion), interventions, ethical approvals (IRB), and statistical analysis methods.
Results: Direct reporting of findings using text, tables, and figures, without interpretation or subjective commentary.
Discussion: Interpretation of results, comparison with previous studies, clinical implications, strengths, study limitations, and a final conclusion.
Formatting Specifications
Word Count: Restricted to 4,000 words (excluding abstract, references, tables, and figures).
Structured Abstract: Limited to 250 words and divided into four mandatory subheadings: Background, Methods, Results, and Conclusions.
Keywords: Include 5 keywords selected from the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) database for indexing.
References: Formatted in AMA style, and cited numerically in the text.
Visuals: Each table and figure must be uploaded as separate files or placed at the end of the text. Figures must be high-quality, clear images.
Critical Reporting Guidelines
Randomized Trials: Must follow the CONSORT statement and include a participant flow diagram.
Observational Studies: Must follow the STROBE statement for cohort, case-control, or cross-sectional designs.
Systematic Reviews: Must follow the PRISMA statement guidelines.
Clinical Trial Registration: Trials must be registered in a public repository (e.g., ClinicalTrials.gov) prior to patient enrollment, with the registration number listed in the abstract.
Review Articles
Synthesizes, analyzes, and evaluates previously published literature on a specific clinical topic to provide a comprehensive update. Rather than presenting new data, it offers critical perspective, identifies current gaps, and highlights future research directions.
Allowed up to 5,000–6,000 words.
Types of Review Articles
Narrative Review: Broad overview of a topic, providing an expert summary without a rigid, predefined search strategy.
Systematic Review: High-level synthesis focusing on a specific clinical question, using an exhaustive, reproducible literature search.
Meta-Analysis: Statistical combination of data from multiple independent, matching studies to produce a single quantitative estimate.
Structural Requirements
Introduction: Clearly states the clinical rationale, historical context, and the specific objectives or questions the review addresses.
Methods (Systematic/Meta-Analysis only): Detailed search strategy, including databases used (e.g., PubMed, Embase), specific search terms, dates, and exact inclusion/exclusion criteria.
Body / Synthesis: Organized logically by themes, chronological developments, or subtopics, using clear subheadings to guide the reader.
Discussion: Critical evaluation of the reviewed literature, highlighting discrepancies across studies, clinical implications, and major gaps.
Conclusions: A concise summary of the current state of knowledge and clear recommendations for future research or clinical practice.
Formatting Specifications
Word Count: Can range between 4,000 to 6,000 words (excluding references, tables, and figures).
Abstract: Limited to 250 to 300 words. Narrative reviews use an unstructured abstract; Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses must use a structured format (Background, Methods, Results, Conclusions).
References: Must be formatted in AMA style.
Visuals: Each table and figure must be uploaded as separate files or placed at the end of the text. Figures must be high-quality, clear images.
Reporting Guidelines
PRISMA Statement: Systematic reviews and Meta-analyses must strictly follow the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines.
PRISMA Flow Diagram: A mandatory visual flowchart tracking the identification, screening, eligibility, and final inclusion of articles must be submitted as a figure.
Case Reports
a brief, educational narrative describing a unique clinical scenario, an unexpected treatment outcome, an unusual side effect, or a rare disease presentation. It serves to alert the medical community to new clinical variations and phenomena.
Structural Requirements
Introduction: Brief background on why the case is unique or noteworthy, detailing the rarity and clinical relevance of the condition.
Case Presentation: Chronological narrative detailing patient demographics, medical history, clinical symptoms, relevant diagnostic test results (labs, imaging), differential diagnoses, treatments administered, and the clinical outcome.
Discussion: Critical analysis comparing the case to existing medical literature, explaining the clinical rationale behind decisions, and highlighting the broader educational take-home messages.
Conclusion: A short, impactful summary emphasizing the main clinical lessons learned from the case.
Formatting Specifications
Word Count: Limited to 2,000 words (excluding abstract, references, and figure legends).
Abstract: Limited to 250 words as an unstructured single paragraph.
References: Must be formatted in AMA style.
Visuals: Each table and figure must be uploaded as separate files or placed at the end of the text. Figures must be high-quality, clear images.
Ethical and Reporting Rules
Patient Consent: A signed Patient Informed Consent form authorizing publication of the text and images is mandatory prior to submission.
De-identification: All patient identifiers (names, exact dates, initials, hospital record numbers, facial features in photographs unless vital) must be completely removed or blurred.
CARE Guidelines: Authors must follow the CARE checklist (CAse REport guidelines) to ensure completeness and reporting quality.
Letters
Short commentary, opinion pieces, or correspondence responding to previously published studies.
Structural Requirements
Target Article Reference: If commenting on a published study, the letter must clearly state the title, authors, publication year, volume, and page numbers of the target paper in the very first paragraph.
Objective: Direct and immediate statement of the critique, agreement, or unique finding without extended background information.
Body Paragraphs: Argumentation backed by solid evidence or literature. Keep the focus limited to one or two core points rather than a broad discussion.
Conclusion: A short closing statement summarizing the author’s stance or the clinical takeaway.
Formatting Specifications
Word Count: Limited to 800 words (excluding references).
Abstract: Not required.
Authors: Limited to a maximum of 3 authors.
References: Must be limited to as few as possible.
Visuals: Allowed a maximum of 1 table and 1 figure.
Manuscript Format and Structure
Title Page: Include full title, author names with academic degrees, institutional affiliations, and corresponding author contact details.
Abstract: Standardized as a single structured paragraph (Background/Objectives, Methods, Results, Conclusions) without citations.
Main Text: Formatted in standard IMRD structure (Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion). Use double spacing and consistent 12-pt fonts (Times New Roman).
References: Numbered sequentially in order of first citation in the text, adhering strictly to AMA style.
Required Submission Files
Cover Letter: A one-page letter explaining the clinical significance and why the paper fits the journal’s scope.
Main Document File: Contains title page, abstract, main text, and references.
Separate Files: Tables, high-resolution figures (minimum 300 dpi), and supplementary appendices must be uploaded as standalone files.
Declarations: Signed conflict of interest disclosures, funding statements, and ethics/IRB approval notifications.
