MicroRNAs in ALS: small pieces to the puzzle

MicroRNAs have emerged as crucial regulators of neuronal function, suggesting that aberrant microRNA expression might contribute to pathologies of the nervous system. In this issue of The EMBO Journal, Emde et. al (2015) report a global decrease in microRNAs as common hallmark of different forms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Strikingly, enhancing microRNA biogenesis has beneficial effects on the neuromuscular function in mouse models of ALS. Thus, the microRNA pathway represents a promising novel target for therapeutic intervention in neurode-generation.