MicroRNAs modulate cell death mechanisms in neurodegenerative disorders

MicroRNAs, a subset of single-stranded noncoding RNAs, modulate gene expression post-transcriptionally. Their role in disrupting gene expression in neurodegenerative diseases is an area of growing interest. Neurodegenerative diseases are progressive disorders that occur in advanced ages, and some aggressively potentiate the normal aging process while following an independent pathology. Understanding how microRNAs directly and indirectly modulate cell death mechanisms like apoptosis, autophagy, and mitochondrial dysfunction in neurodegenerative diseases can reveal regulation impacts and identify microRNAs that act as therapeutic targets. This review discusses the involvement of microRNAs in modulating cell death mechanisms in Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington’s diseases, along with associated cell signaling pathways.