Biomarkers in Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Bibliometric Analysis Using VOSviewer

Abstract

The accurate and timely diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases is a major challenge, driving considerable efforts to identify biomarkers that can detect presence of disease, progression and therapeutic response. A bibliometric analysis of the literature on biomarker research in relation to Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, and more neurodegenerative disorders is conducted in this study to trace the intellectual structure, working groups, and thematic development of the research. A dataset of 1,431 publications from 2010–2025 was analyzed using bibliometric and visual analysis techniques in VOS viewer. The analysis of co-authorship demonstrated that Swedish establishments, especially the Sahlgrenska Academy and Skan University Hospital dominate the research market, with Henrik Zetterberg (1, 203 citations) and Kaj Blennow (1, 134 citations) being the most influential authors. The United States was had the maximum number of publications (452 documents, 22,101 citations), then the United Kingdom and Sweden. The most cited paper was Dammer (2022) on multi-platform proteomic analysis of Alzheimer CSF and plasma biomarkers (2,293 citations). Thematic analysis showed a chronological shift from CSF-based protein markers and biomarker ratios (2010–2015) through neuroinflammatory markers and microRNAs (2015–2020) toward blood-based alternatives, digital biomarkers, and multi-modal diagnostic frameworks (2020–2025). The findings highlight the need for protocol standardisation across studies, increased collaboration with underrepresented regions, and continued development of blood-based and minimally invasive diagnostic tools. The paper has practical implications to researchers who want to collaborate and future trends in neurodegenerative biomarker studies.