Researchers have identified miR-519a-3p as a potential early biomarker for Alzheimer’s, linked to prion protein expression, promising improvements in diagnosis and treatment for millions worldwide.
The search for biomarkers that are stable and easily detectable in biofluids, such as microRNAs, offers hope for detecting Alzheimer’s disease in its early, asymptomatic stages. Early detection could significantly improve the diagnosis and treatment of this disease, which affects more than 35 million people worldwide.
“Currently, tests to diagnose Alzheimer’s disease are usually carried out after the onset of symptoms, when there is already underlying cognitive impairment.
The study also comparatively analyses the presence of the biomarker in samples from other neurodegenerative diseases: “If our goal is to use miR-519a-3p as a biomarker to detect Alzheimer’s dementia in hypothetically healthy people, it is essential to ensure that its levels are not altered in other neurodegenerative diseases.