MicroRNAs as a Diagnostic Biomarker in Alzheimer’s Disease: Potential Roles and Characteristics

Abstract

As the world moves towards an aging society, it faces enormous public health challenges. Among them, an increased number of patients with dementia poses a serious socioeconomic burden. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most important type of dementia and despite many studies, cannot be cured by modern medicine. However, the progression of the disease can be delayed; therefore, early diagnosis of AD is very important. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are abundant in the CNS, and their profiles get altered in degenerative brain diseases. Studies analyzing the tissues, blood, and cerebrospinal fluid of AD patients have shown an up-regulation in some miRNA expression and a decrease in some miRNAs. These miRNAs are involved in modulating the production of amyloid beta, hyperphosphorylation of tau protein, and synaptic plasticity. These characteristics make miRNAs very attractive tools for disease diagnosis. Through this review, we intend to investigate the characteristics and vulnerabilities of miRNAs in AD diagnosis.