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Dysregulation and diagnostic potential of microRNA in Alzheimer's disease
Yaoqian Pan1, Ruizhu Liu2, Erin Terpstra3
1Department of Veterinary Pathology, College of Animal Sciences, Henan Institute of Science and Technology, Xinxiang, China.
Abstract:
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases and is considered to be the main cause of cognitive impairment in elderly people. The major symptom of AD is progressive dementia that eventually results in dysfunction of daily life. Due to the fact that AD has a long period of incubation before clinical symptoms emerge, the available therapeutic treatments can only improve the symptoms but not delay the progression of AD. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore effective diagnostic approaches to catch and better treat the disease before clinical symptoms appear. Recent research revealed that abnormal expression of certain miRNA could have a crucial role in the pathological process of neurodegenerative disease including AD. Furthermore, given that AD patients show increased level of miRNAs in the blood and cerebrospinal fluid, miRNAs are considered promising non-invasive candidates for AD diagnosis and prognosis. Here, we reviewed the current research related to implications of miRNAs during the development of AD, summarized of actively used approaches to identifying potential miRNA biomarkers in body fluids, and discussed the diagnostic potential of microRNAs as biomarkers for AD.
Insights
Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis can be improved using microRNAs (miRNAs) found in bodily fluids. These biomarkers show promise for early detection and prognosis before symptoms appear.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Biochemistry
- Genetics
Background:
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading cause of cognitive decline in the elderly, characterized by progressive dementia.
- Current treatments manage symptoms but cannot halt AD progression due to its long preclinical phase.
- Early diagnostic methods are crucial for timely intervention and improved patient outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis.
- To summarize methods for identifying miRNA biomarkers in body fluids.
- To discuss the diagnostic and prognostic potential of miRNAs for AD.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of current research on miRNAs in AD development.
- Analysis of techniques used for detecting miRNA biomarkers in blood and cerebrospinal fluid.
- Evaluation of studies on the diagnostic accuracy of miRNAs for AD.
Main Results:
- Aberrant miRNA expression is implicated in the pathological processes of neurodegenerative diseases like AD.
- Elevated miRNA levels in blood and cerebrospinal fluid of AD patients suggest their potential as biomarkers.
- Various approaches are actively used to identify and validate miRNA biomarkers for AD.
Conclusions:
- MicroRNAs are promising non-invasive candidates for early AD diagnosis and prognosis.
- Further research is needed to fully establish miRNAs as reliable biomarkers for Alzheimer's disease.
- Identifying miRNA biomarkers could revolutionize the management of Alzheimer's disease.
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