Roles of Micrornas in Parkinson’s and Other Neurodegenerative Diseases

Currently, there is no cure to stop or reverse the progression of neuronal loss in neurodegenerative diseases while they are becoming an epidemic in gradually aging societies. Stress- and age-related dysregulation of posttranscriptional regulatory network may contribute to functional decline and loss of affected neurons. This chapter reviews the involvement of microRNAs in neurodegenerative diseases with the focus on Parkinson’s disease. We also highlight the phenomenon of age-related decline of neuronal microRNAs. Deciphering the changes in expression levels of microRNAs and their targets may help uncover mechanisms of disease progression. We compare approaches to study such microRNAs in the context of neurodegenerative disorders and, in particular, Parkinson’s disease. This review also categorize Parkinson’s disease postmortem brain microRNA profiling studies. Thus, we attempt to provide an insight into future research endeavors and clinical applications related to the roles of microRNAs in neurodegeneration.