Top 25 Neurology Journals ranked by Influence and recent Impact Factor

Apr 8

Neurology is one of the most rapidly advancing fields in medicine. Breakthroughs in neurodegenerative disease, stroke care, epilepsy, and brain imaging are constantly changing how clinicians diagnose and treat patients. Publishing in the leading neurology journals ensures your research reaches the right audience and helps shape the future of neuroscience and clinical care. Below is a list of the Top 25 Neurology Journals ranked by influence and recent Impact Factor, with expanded descriptions, history, scope, and publishing focus.

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The Top 25

1. The Lancet Neurology

Impact Factor: ~45.5
Publisher: Elsevier
Why it matters: One of the highest-impact neurology journals, publishing practice-changing studies on stroke, dementia, epilepsy, and neuromuscular disease.
History: Launched in 2002 as a specialty branch of The Lancet.
Scope & Readership: Widely read by neurologists, neuroscientists, and policymakers worldwide.
Publishing focus: Landmark clinical trials, public health research, and global neurology initiatives.

2. Nature Reviews Neurology

Impact Factor: ~33.1
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Why it matters: Provides authoritative, invited reviews summarizing breakthroughs across all areas of neurology.
History: Founded in 2005, quickly became the go-to review journal for neurologists.
Scope & Readership: Clinicians and researchers looking for in-depth synthesis and forward-looking perspectives.
Publishing focus: Reviews and perspectives on clinical advances, disease mechanisms, and therapies.

3. Brain

Impact Factor: ~11.7
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Why it matters: A long-standing, prestigious journal covering both clinical and experimental neurology.
History: First published in 1878, making it one of the oldest continuously running neurology journals.
Scope & Readership: International readership of neuroscientists, neurologists, and neurosurgeons.
Publishing focus: Original research on mechanisms, pathology, imaging, and clinical neurology.

4. Annals of Neurology

Impact Factor: ~7.7
Publisher: Wiley
Why it matters: Official journal of the American Neurological Association; publishes high-impact clinical and basic research.
History: Founded in 1977.
Scope & Readership: Broad clinical readership, especially in North America.
Publishing focus: Clinical trials, disease mechanisms, and translational neuroscience.

5. Neurology

Impact Factor: ~8.5
Publisher: American Academy of Neurology
Why it matters: The most widely read clinical neurology journal, known for guidelines and consensus statements.
History: First published in 1951; AAN’s official journal.
Scope & Readership: Practicing neurologists, educators, and clinical researchers.
Publishing focus: Clinical studies, practice guidelines, and case-based insights.

6. Nature Reviews Neuroscience

Impact Factor: ~26.7
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Why it matters: Authoritative reviews in basic and systems neuroscience; highly cited.
History: Launched in 2000.
Scope & Readership: Neuroscientists, neurobiologists, and cognitive researchers.
Publishing focus: Reviews and perspectives spanning molecular neuroscience to cognition.

7. Nature Neuroscience

Impact Factor: ~20
Publisher: Nature Portfolio
Why it matters: Leading venue for cutting-edge basic neuroscience.
History: Established in 1998.
Scope & Readership: Basic scientists and translational neuroscientists.
Publishing focus: Molecular, synaptic, systems, and cognitive neuroscience.

8. Alzheimer’s & Dementia

Impact Factor: ~11.1
Publisher: Wiley, for the Alzheimer’s Association
Why it matters: The leading journal for dementia research, including clinical, biomarker, and therapeutic studies.
History: First published in 2005.
Scope & Readership: Clinicians and researchers in dementia and aging.
Publishing focus: Epidemiology, trials, biomarkers, and translational research in Alzheimer’s and related dementias.

9. Multiple Sclerosis Journal

Impact Factor: ~5
Publisher: SAGE
Why it matters: The top specialty journal focused on multiple sclerosis and demyelinating disease.
History: Launched in 1995.
Scope & Readership: Neurologists and MS researchers globally.
Publishing focus: Clinical studies, trials, imaging, and immunological mechanisms.

10. Movement Disorders

Impact Factor: ~7.6
Publisher: Wiley, for the International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
Why it matters: Leading journal for Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
History: Founded in 1986.
Scope & Readership: Neurologists specializing in movement disorders.
Publishing focus: Clinical trials, imaging, genetics, and therapeutic innovations.

11. Epilepsia

Impact Factor: ~6.6
Publisher: Wiley, for the International League Against Epilepsy
Why it matters: The most cited journal dedicated to epilepsy research.
History: Established in 1909.
Scope & Readership: Neurologists, epileptologists, and neuroscientists.
Publishing focus: Seizure mechanisms, therapies, imaging, and epidemiology.

12. Stroke

Impact Factor: ~8.9
Publisher: American Heart Association
Why it matters: The leading journal for cerebrovascular disease, with heavy clinical influence.
History: Founded in 1970.
Scope & Readership: Neurologists, cardiologists, emergency physicians.
Publishing focus: Stroke prevention, acute management, rehabilitation, and outcomes.

13. Neuroimage

Impact Factor: ~10.8
Publisher: Elsevier
Why it matters: The most important journal for brain imaging and neuroimaging methodologies.
History: Launched in 1992.
Scope & Readership: Imaging scientists, neurologists, psychiatrists.
Publishing focus: MRI, PET, EEG/MEG, imaging biomarkers, and computational methods.

14. Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry (JNNP)

Impact Factor: ~8.8
Publisher: BMJ
Why it matters: Covers neurology, neurosurgery, psychiatry, and intersections between them.
History: Founded in 1920.
Scope & Readership: Broad clinician and academic audience.
Publishing focus: Original clinical research, reviews, and guidelines.

15. Acta Neuropathologica

Impact Factor: ~9.3
Publisher: Springer
Why it matters: The leading journal for neuropathology and neurodegeneration.
History: First published in 1961.
Scope & Readership: Neuropathologists, neuroscientists, and neurologists.
Publishing focus: Pathology, molecular mechanisms, and disease progression.

16. Neuro-Oncology

Impact Factor: ~13.4
Publisher: Oxford University Press, for the Society for Neuro-Oncology
Why it matters: The top journal for brain and spinal cord tumors.
History: Founded in 1999.
Scope & Readership: Neuro-oncologists, neurosurgeons, oncologists.
Publishing focus: Clinical trials, biomarkers, and translational tumor research.

17. Neurobiology of Aging

Impact Factor: ~7.8
Publisher: Elsevier
Why it matters: Strong focus on aging and neurodegenerative processes.
History: Launched in 1980.
Scope & Readership: Aging researchers, neurologists, neuroscientists.
Publishing focus: Mechanisms of neurodegeneration and aging biology.

18. European Journal of Neurology

Impact Factor: ~3.9
Publisher: Wiley, for the European Academy of Neurology
Why it matters: Widely read European clinical neurology journal.
History: Founded in 1994.
Scope & Readership: General neurology audience across Europe and beyond.
Publishing focus: Clinical neurology, epidemiology, and guidelines.

19. Cerebral Cortex

Impact Factor: ~2.9
Publisher: Oxford University Press
Why it matters: Highly regarded for basic and systems neuroscience.
History: First published in 1991.
Scope & Readership: Systems neuroscientists and neurologists.
Publishing focus: Brain networks, cognition, computational neuroscience.

20. Frontiers in Neurology

Impact Factor: ~2.8
Publisher: Frontiers Media
Why it matters: Large open-access journal covering all aspects of neurology.
History: Launched in 2010.
Scope & Readership: Wide international readership; popular in emerging research regions.
Publishing focus: Clinical and translational neurology; rapid publication.

21. Progress in Neurobiology

Impact Factor: ~6.1
Publisher: Elsevier
Focus: Comprehensive reviews of neurobiology, neurodegeneration, and systems neuroscience
Why it matters: A highly respected review journal, synthesizing advances in molecular, cellular, and behavioral neuroscience. Its review articles are among the most cited in the field.
History: Founded in 1973, it has become a leading venue for authoritative, in-depth reviews.
Scope & Readership: Neuroscientists, neurologists, and graduate researchers worldwide.
Publishing focus: Mostly invited reviews; highly selective but more approachable than Nature Reviews.

22. Neuropsychopharmacology

Impact Factor: ~7.1
Publisher: Nature Portfolio, for the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology (ACNP)
Focus: Psychopharmacology, psychiatry, neurobiology of mental illness
Why it matters: The official journal of ACNP, bridging neuroscience, psychiatry, and pharmacology. Well cited in both clinical and basic domains.
History: Founded in 1987; consistent growth as psychopharmacology advanced.
Scope & Readership: Psychiatrists, neurologists, and researchers in neuropharmacology.
Publishing focus: Mechanistic drug studies, psychiatric neuroscience, translational trials.

23. Human Brain Mapping

Impact Factor: ~3.3
Publisher: Wiley
Focus: Brain imaging, connectivity, and computational neuroscience
Why it matters: The flagship journal for neuroimaging, it publishes cutting-edge work in fMRI, EEG/MEG, and multimodal brain mapping.
History: Established in 1993, official journal of the Organization for Human Brain Mapping.
Scope & Readership: Imaging scientists, neurologists, and cognitive neuroscientists.
Publishing focus: Methodological advances in brain imaging, functional connectivity, and large-scale brain projects.

24. Journal of Neuroscience

Impact Factor: ~4
Publisher: Society for Neuroscience
Focus: Broad neuroscience including molecular, systems, and cognitive levels
Why it matters: The official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, with wide readership across disciplines. Known for strong community engagement.
History: Launched in 1981; remains one of the most established neuroscience outlets.
Scope & Readership: International neuroscience community — from basic to applied.
Publishing focus: Original research across all neuroscience domains; less selective than Nature Neuroscience, making it more accessible.

25. Experimental Neurology

Impact Factor: ~4.2
Publisher: Elsevier
Focus: Laboratory and translational studies of neurological disease models
Why it matters: Publishes mechanistic and experimental work that bridges preclinical models to clinical neurology.
History: Established in 1959, with a long track record of publishing influential animal and translational studies.
Scope & Readership: Neuroscientists, translational neurologists, neuropharmacologists.
Publishing focus: Animal models of neurological disease, experimental therapeutics, and neurobiology of injury.

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