MiR-7 in neurological disorders: beyond metabolic dysregulation

Brain health depends on the fine coordination of metabolic and neuronal pathways, and disturbances in this balance are recognized as major drivers of neurodegenerative, neurological, and neuropsychiatric disorders. Increasing evidence indicates that microRNAs (miRNAs), as key post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression, play important roles in the molecular networks underlying neurological diseases by modulating pathways involved in energy metabolism, inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal survival. Among them, miR-7 has emerged as a particularly relevant regulator due to its high conservation, abundant expression in the central nervous system (CNS), and pleiotropic actions impacting both metabolic and neurodegenerative processes. This review focuses on current knowledge regarding miR-7 as a molecular node linking metabolic imbalance to neurological dysfunction, highlighting its regulatory targets and potential translational relevance in neurometabolic disorders.