Written and maintained by CASRAI Editorial Board
Last updated
JAMA Neurology is a peer-reviewed clinical neurology journal published by the American Medical Association as part of the JAMA Network. This page is a fact sheet for researchers deciding whether to read, cite or submit to it: what the journal covers, how often it appears, the figures it reports about itself, and the word limits for each article type. Figures below are as stated on the journal’s own pages, read on 2026-11-07.
What JAMA Neurology is
The journal’s About page describes it as an international peer-reviewed journal for physicians who care for people with neurologic disorders and for those interested in the structure and function of the nervous system. It is one of the titles of the JAMA Network, the AMA’s family of journals (see JAMA Network journal submission).
| Item | As stated by the journal |
|---|---|
| Publisher | American Medical Association (JAMA Network) |
| Frequency | Published online weekly, every Monday; 12 issues a year |
| ISSN | 2168-6149 (print), 2168-6157 (online) |
| Editor in chief | S. Andrew Josephson, MD, University of California, San Francisco (Professor and Chair of Neurology) |
| Open access | Authors of research articles may elect to pay for immediate open access on the day of publication |
| Archiving | Research articles are deposited in PubMed Central |
What it covers
Content listed on the journal’s pages includes original research (including clinical trials and translational research), articles on practice, ethics, education and public health, commentary, author audio interviews, podcasts and visual abstracts.
Is JAMA Neurology peer reviewed?
Yes. The journal describes itself as peer reviewed. Peer review applies to research content; shorter opinion formats such as Viewpoints are typically evaluated editorially, so check the article type before assuming external review.
What is the impact factor of JAMA Neurology?
The journal’s About page states a Journal Impact Factor of 23.6, “the third highest ranking among neurology journals.” The Journal Impact Factor is a Clarivate metric recalculated each year, so the figure changes between release years and the page does not date it here; cite the Journal Citation Reports edition you actually consult. For how the JIF is calculated and why it differs per journal, see JAMA Network impact factor.
Acceptance rate and decision times
The journal reports a 6% acceptance rate and a median time to first decision of 3 days without external review and 36 days with review. These are journal-reported figures, not independent measurements, and the page notes expedited review for select clinical trials and urgent public health reports.
Article types and word limits
The Instructions for Authors set a limit for each type. This table gathers them in one place (read 2026-11-07; the instructions page is shared across JAMA Network journals, so confirm current text before submitting).
| Article type | Word limit | Notes from the instructions |
|---|---|---|
| Original Investigation | 3,000 | Up to 5 tables/figures; structured abstract; Key Points |
| Brief Report | 1,200 | Rarely published |
| Research Letter | 800 | |
| Systematic Review | 3,000 | PRISMA flow diagram |
| Meta-analysis | 3,000 | PRISMA or MOOSE |
| Clinical Trial | 3,000 | CONSORT, registration and protocol |
| Narrative Review | 2,000 to 3,500 | |
| Special Communication | 3,000 | Presubmission inquiry required |
| Clinical Challenge | 850 | |
| Images in Neurology | 500 | Up to 2 figures, up to 3 authors |
| Viewpoint | 1,200 | |
| On the Brain | 1,600 | |
| Letter to the Editor | 400 | Within 4 weeks of online publication |
| Letter in Reply | 500 |
How to submit
The Instructions for Authors direct submission through the journal’s online manuscript system at manuscripts.jamaneuro.com. The corresponding author receives a manuscript number, after which all authors complete an Authorship Form. Reporting guidelines named for specific types (PRISMA, MOOSE, CONSORT) are listed above. For the wider JAMA Network process, see the JAMA submission guide.
Strengths and limits
- Useful for: clinical neurology research with a physician readership, with fast first-decision times reported for papers not sent for review.
- Limits: a 6% reported acceptance rate and tight word limits (3,000 for a full research paper) mean heavy selection and compression. The impact factor is a journal-level metric and says nothing about any single article.
Alternatives
Other neurology journals exist, including Lancet Neurology, Annals of Neurology, Neurology and Brain. To compare journals on current metrics, use the indexers’ own listings (the NLM Catalog for indexing status, SCImago Journal Rank for quartile and h-index) rather than a single quoted figure.
FAQ
What is the study of neurology?
Neurology is the medical specialty concerned with disorders of the nervous system. See What is neurology? for the field overview.
Where does JAMA Neurology publish?
Online weekly on Mondays, in 12 issues a year, with ISSNs 2168-6149 (print) and 2168-6157 (online).
Is JAMA Neurology peer reviewed?
Yes. The journal describes itself as peer reviewed. Shorter opinion formats such as Viewpoints are typically evaluated editorially, so check the article type.
What is the impact factor of JAMA Neurology?
The journal’s About page states a Journal Impact Factor of 23.6. The figure is recalculated each year by Clarivate, so cite the Journal Citation Reports edition you consult.
What is the highest qualification in neurology?
There is no single “highest” degree. In the United States, the recognised professional credential is certification by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology (ABPN), which requires a medical degree (an MD from a school accredited by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, or a DO), training in an ACGME-accredited program or one approved by the ABPN, an unrestricted licence to practise, and passing the board examination. Requirements differ in other countries, so check the relevant national board. Source: ABPN, Become Certified.
Sources
- JAMA Neurology, About the journal (read 2026-11-07)
- JAMA Neurology, Instructions for Authors (read 2026-11-07)
- ABPN, Become Certified
