Intracranial self-stimulation mitigates spatial task deficits, modifies miR-146a and miR-495 serum levels and restores hippocampal NRF2 levels in a rat model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: A definitive diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) requires the identification of pathological changes. Plasma miRNAs have emerged as potential AD diagnostic biomarkers. METHODS: Amatched case-control study was conducted using convenience sampling to evaluate the ability of candidate miRNAs in differentiating probable AD patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or mild dementia (MD) stages. The initial sample included 29 patients and 58 controls. Plasma levels of miRNAs were measured by real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and their associations with scores from a comprehensive neuropsychological battery of cognitive tests analyzed by Spearman's correlation. RESULTS: A miR-181a, miR-181c, and miR-495 signature showed area-under-curve values indicative of strong diagnostic capacity and biomarker-based staging. Higher levels of these miRNAs were associated with worse scores in the different assessed cognitive tests