The Role of MicroRNAs in Alzheimer's Disease: Pathological mechanisms, potential diagnostic and therapeutic values

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a common and complex neurodegenerative disorder, and the growing prevalence and incidence of AD are expected to place a significant emotional and economic burden on society in the coming decades. MicroRNAs(miRNAs), a type of small-molecule non-coding regulate gene expression by attaching to target mRNAs and preventing translation or encouraging destruction, thereby contributing to a range of biological activities. It has been found that multiple miRNAs are dysregulated in brain tissue and peripheral body fluids of AD patients, and the pathogenic processes that these miRNAs are implicated in include AD-associated β-amyloid metabolism, tau protein phosphorylation, synaptic structural and quantitative changes, neuroinflammation, and organelle dysfunction. Nonetheless, there are ongoing debates over the molecular pathophysiology of AD, and effective diagnostic and therapeutic approaches are desperately needed. In this paper, the role of miRNAs in the pathological mechanisms, diagnosis, and treatment of AD are reviewed, which provide a reference for clinical applications.