Instructions for Authors
- Open access · CC BY 4.0
- ISSN 2998-4211
- Published by Open Access Pub
Guidance for preparing a manuscript for the Journal of Alzheimer’s Research and Therapy. The instructions emphasize ethical compliance, transparent reporting and clear scientific communication.
Choose the article type
| Type | Purpose and content |
|---|---|
| Original Research | Full-length clinical, translational or basic-science studies, including clinical trials, with a structured abstract, methods, statistical analysis and results. |
| Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Evidence syntheses with a registered or documented protocol, a structured search strategy, database coverage and a selection flow, reported to PRISMA or an equivalent standard. |
| Review | Critical, narrative or scoping syntheses of a defined question. |
| Mini-Review | Concise, focused reviews of a recent development. |
| Methods and Protocols | Detailed methods, study protocols, data resources and workflows that support reproducibility. |
| Short Communication | Concise reports of novel findings, pilot data or method validations. |
| Data Note | Descriptions of datasets with their collection methods and potential reuse. |
| Case Report | Well-documented clinical observations with clear learning value and documented patient consent. |
| Perspective | Expert viewpoints on emerging evidence, policy implications or clinical practice. |
| Commentary | Focused discussion of a published article or topical issue. |
| Editorial | Commissioned or editor-written pieces on journal or field developments. |
| Letter to the Editor | Brief, referenced responses to published content or short observations of interest to readers. |
Manuscript structure
The structure depends on the article type. Research articles and systematic reviews follow the Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion order; other reviews, protocols, opinion pieces, editorials and letters use the structure that suits their format, as set out below.
- Title. Concise and descriptive, naming the main topic, outcome or population.
- Abstract. Structured (objectives, methods, results, conclusions) for Original Research, Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses, and Short Communications; a brief unstructured summary for Reviews, Mini-Reviews, Methods and Protocols, Data Notes, Case Reports, Perspectives and Commentaries. Editorials and Letters to the Editor do not need an abstract.
- Keywords. Four to seven keywords that support discovery (not needed for Editorials and Letters).
- Main text. Organized as shown for each type in the table below.
- Back matter. Acknowledgments, author contributions, funding, conflicts of interest and references for every type; a data-availability statement wherever data are reported.
| Article type | Main text |
|---|---|
| Original Research | Introduction, Methods (design, participants, procedures, ethics approval, statistical analysis), Results, Discussion (including limitations) and Conclusion. |
| Short Communication | The research order above in condensed form; Results and Discussion may be combined. |
| Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis | Introduction, Methods (protocol and registration, search strategy, eligibility, risk-of-bias assessment, synthesis), Results with a selection flow diagram, Discussion and Conclusion, reported to PRISMA. |
| Review and Mini-Review | Introduction, thematic sections with headings chosen by the authors, and a conclusion or outlook. A Methods or Results section is not required; if the literature was searched systematically, briefly describe the sources and search approach. |
| Methods and Protocols | Background and rationale, a full description of the method or study protocol (design, materials, procedures, planned analysis), and validation, expected outcomes or limitations. Study protocols that report no data do not need a Results section; trial protocols follow SPIRIT. |
| Data Note | Background, data collection methods, a description of the dataset and its repository record, technical validation and notes on reuse. |
| Case Report | Introduction, case presentation (with documented patient consent), discussion and learning points, reported to CARE. |
| Perspective and Commentary | A focused, referenced argument under headings chosen by the authors; no Methods or Results section. |
| Editorial | Continuous text, with headings if helpful; no Methods or Results section. |
| Letter to the Editor | Brief continuous text without section headings, with references; a letter about a published article cites that article. |
Manuscripts should be concise and focused; the journal does not set a single word limit for all types.
Files, figures and tables
- Submit the manuscript as an editable document, with line numbers where possible, and the cover letter as a separate file.
- Cite every figure and table in order of appearance, with a clear caption, defined abbreviations and units.
- Upload figures as high-resolution image files without excessive compression, with consistently labeled panels and scale bars for microscopy and imaging.
- Create tables in editable text, not as images, so that they remain accessible.
- Describe supplementary files briefly in the main text and provide raw data where required, noting any image adjustments.
- Use standard terminology and consistent units, and define abbreviations at first use.
Statistical reporting
Manuscripts that report statistical analyses provide enough detail for a qualified reader to understand the analysis: study design, primary and secondary endpoints, software, model assumptions and handling of missing data. Report effect sizes with confidence intervals and exact p values where appropriate.
Clinical and longitudinal studies describe the sample size calculation and justify the analysis plan. Multi-site and multi-cohort studies describe harmonization methods and any sensitivity analyses.
Reporting guidelines
| Study design | Guideline |
|---|---|
| Randomized trials | CONSORT |
| Systematic reviews and meta-analyses | PRISMA |
| Observational studies | STROBE |
| Case reports | CARE |
| Diagnostic accuracy studies | STARD |
| Animal research | ARRIVE |
Authors cite the checklist used and, where a field-specific standard applies, report to it.
Ethics, consent and registration
- Studies involving human participants, animals or sensitive data report ethical review, including the approving committee and reference number, and informed consent where applicable.
- Case reports document patient consent and remove identifying details. Authors who cannot obtain consent explain the circumstances to the editorial office.
- Interventional clinical trials must be registered in an accepted public trial registry at or before the first participant provides consent for enrollment. The registry name, registration number, and registration date must be reported in the manuscript.
- Authors disclose funding sources, grant numbers and any financial, institutional or personal relationships that could influence the work.
- All submissions undergo originality screening with Crossref Similarity Check, powered by iThenticate.
Data availability, preprints and AI
Every empirical research manuscript must include a data-availability statement describing where data, code or protocols can be accessed. If data cannot be shared, explain why and how qualified researchers may request access. See Data Archiving Permissions.
Preprints are permitted. Disclose the preprint DOI or link at submission and highlight substantive changes in the published version.
Authors may use AI tools for language refinement or formatting but remain responsible for accuracy, interpretation and originality. Disclose any AI-assisted tool used in writing or analysis in the acknowledgments or methods section.
Authors obtain permission for reused copyrighted figures, tables or instruments and provide documentation at submission.
Reference format
Use one consistent numbered style, cited in order of appearance. Include a DOI link where available. Representative patterns:
- Journal article: Author AA, Author BB. Title of article. Journal Abbreviation. Year;Volume(Issue):Pages. doi:DOI
- Book: Author AA. Title of Book. Edition. Publisher; Year.
- Web page: Organization or Author. Title of page. Website name. Published or updated date. Accessed date. URL
- Dataset: Author or Organization. Title of dataset. Version. Repository; Year. doi:DOI
- Preprint: Author AA, Author BB. Title. Preprint server. Posted date. doi:DOI
- Trial registration: Sponsor or Investigator. Title of trial. Registry name. Registration number. Registered date. URL
Peer review
Single-blind by default; double-blind review is available on request.
Manuscripts that proceed to external peer review are normally evaluated by at least two independent subject-matter experts.
For double-blind review, remove author names, affiliations, acknowledgments, funding details, institution names, and other identifying information from the reviewer manuscript. Provide identifying information separately in the title-page file or submission form.
Editorial decisions are based on scope, scientific quality, methodological rigor, ethical compliance, reporting quality, and relevance to the journal.
When revisions are requested, provide a point-by-point response to the reviewer comments and indicate the changes in the manuscript. Authors may suggest qualified reviewers who are free of conflicts of interest; suggestions are considered by the editors and are not binding.
Submission checklist
- Manuscript file in an editable format.
- Cover letter describing the manuscript’s fit with the journal and any prior dissemination.
- Ethics approval and consent details where applicable, and trial registration details for interventional trials.
- Funding, author-contribution and conflict-of-interest statements.
- Data-availability statement and repository links, where the manuscript reports data.
- Figures and tables as separate files if required, with permissions for reused material.
- For double-blind review, an anonymized manuscript and a separate title page.
Production and charges
Accepted manuscripts enter production for copyediting and formatting, and authors receive proofs to confirm accuracy before publication. The article processing charge of USD 1,200 is communicated after acceptance and does not affect editorial decisions; see Article Processing Charges. Authors who wish to withdraw a manuscript follow the withdrawal policy.
Choose a submission route
ManuscriptZone
The primary route. Create an account, submit the manuscript and follow its progress online.
Open ManuscriptZoneSimple manuscript submission form
The alternative route, with JALR preselected as the journal.
Open the formEditorial office email
The assisted route, for authors who need help to submit.
info@openaccesspub.org
Authors must use only one submission route for the same manuscript.