Research on RARs in neurodegenerative diseases: A bibliometric analysis

BACKGROUND: In recent decades, thousands of research articles on neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) have been published. Retinoic acid and its analogues play crucial roles in biological processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis through their interaction with retinoic acid receptors (RARs). While the involvement of RARs in NDs has attracted increasing interest, a further understanding of the current state and future trajectories of RARs research within this field needs to be explored. This study aims to provide a systematic overview through bibliometric and visual analysis. METHODS: Original research and review articles concerning RARs in NDs were systematically retrieved from 3 databases: Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, and PubMed. Subsequent statistical analysis and graphical representation of data on country, institution, authorship, journal, and key terms were conducted using advanced software like VOSviewer, CiteSpace, and the bibliometric toolbox within the R programming language. RESULTS: A total of 1094 articles were included in the analysis, with the United States leading in both publication output (n = 254) and total citations (TC = 17,102), followed by China and Germany. The United States also demonstrated the highest total link strength (90), indicating its central role in international collaborations. The University of California System was the most prolific institution. Keyword analysis revealed core research themes including "retinoic acid," "neurodegeneration," "neuroinflammation," "oxidative stress," and "neuronal differentiation," with recent shifts toward mechanisms involving microglia, the blood-brain barrier, and translational models. CONCLUSION: Research on RARs in NDs represents a dynamically growing and interdisciplinary field. The USA has contributed most substantially to the literature, underscoring the importance of international and institutional collaboration. Current and emerging research hotspots focus on intracellular calcium, cancer, tau protein, and inflammation, highlighting pathways with therapeutic potential. Future studies should further elucidate molecular mechanisms, integrate advanced technologies such as single-cell sequencing, and accelerate the translation of RAR-related findings into clinical applications.