Recent Advances in the Roles of MicroRNA and MicroRNA-Based Diagnosis in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases manifest as progressive loss of neuronal structures and their myelin sheaths and lead to substantial morbidity and mortality, especially in the elderly. Despite extensive research, there are few effective treatment options for the diseases. MicroRNAs have been shown to be involved in the developmental processes of the central nervous system. Mounting evidence suggest they play an important role in the development of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's disease. However, there are few reviews regarding the roles of miRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases. This review summarizes the recent developments in the roles of microRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases and presents the application of microRNA-based methods in the early diagnosis of these diseases.

Automated summary

Neurodegenerative diseases cause progressive loss of neuronal structures and myelin sheaths, leading to significant morbidity and mortality, particularly in the elderly. MicroRNAs have been found to play important roles in the development of the central nervous system and have been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. However, there is a lack of comprehensive reviews on the roles of microRNAs in these diseases. This review summarizes recent developments in understanding the roles of microRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases and discusses the potential application of microRNA-based methods for early diagnosis.