A bibliometric analysis of alpha-synuclein in Parkinson's disease from 2015 to 2024

This study employs bibliometric analysis to systematically examine global research trends and map the intellectual landscape of α-synuclein (α-syn) in Parkinson's disease (PD) from 2015 to 2024.

On January 14, 2025, bibliographic data were extracted from the web of science core collection (WOSCC) and PubMed. Using CiteSpace (version 6.2.R4), VOSviewer (version 1.6.20), the Bibliometrix R package (4.4.2), and Microsoft Excel 2024, we analyzed publication trends, geographic and institutional contributions, journal distributions, author distributions, co-cited references, and keyword co-occurrences.

A total of 10,390 publications were included, with a steady annual growth (R² = 0.8741). The United States, China, and Germany were the top contributing countries. Leading institutions included the University of Cambridge and the University of Pennsylvania. Core journals such as Movement Disorders and International Journal of Molecular Sciences exhibited significant influence. Keyword clustering highlighted research hotspots, including neurodegeneration, aggregation, oxidative stress, Lewy bodies, and emerging diagnostic technologies like RT-QuIC. Important trends were identified in immune mechanisms, exosome-mediated propagation, gut-brain axis involvement, and cross-disease mechanisms.

The significance of α-syn in Parkinson's disease research is growing. Future efforts should emphasize mechanistic studies, biomarker validation, and targeted therapies to advance personalized medicine in PD.