Bhagawati Saxena

By Heena Chauhan, Pawan Gupta and Bhagawati Saxena

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder and is considered to be the most common form of dementia. This disorder is characterized by the formation of amyloid β (Aβ) plaques, neurofibrillary tangles, and alterations in synaptic function, all of which cause memory loss and behavioral disturbances. Despite the high prevalence of AD, effective therapeutic and diagnostic tools remain unavailable. MicroRNAs (miRNAs, miRs) are regulatory non-coding RNAs that target mRNAs. MiRNAs are involved in the regulation of the expressions of APP and BACE1, Aβ clearance, and the formation of neuro-fibrillary tangles. Furthermore, there are evidences that show alteration in the expression of several miRs in AD. MicroRNA is emerging as a biomarker because they have high specificity and, efficiency, and can be detected in biological fluids such as cerebrospinal fluid, tear, urine, blood. Moreover, miRNAs may be acquired and measured easily by utilizing real-time PCR, next-generation sequencing, or microarray. These techniques are cost-effective in comparison with imaging techniques such as magnetic resonance imaging, positron emission tomography. These features make miRNAs viable therapeutic as well as diagnostic tools in the treatment of AD. This review covers the regulatory function of miRNAs in AD, as well as their prospective applications as diagnostic biomarkers.

Part of the book: Alzheimer's Disease