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Posterior cingulate cortex microRNA dysregulation differentiates cognitive resilience, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease
Scott Counts, John Swanson Beck, Bryan J. Maloney, Michael H. Malek‐Ahmadi, Stephen D. Ginsberg, Elliott Jay Mufson, Debomoy K. Lahiri. Alzheimer s & Dementia, 2025-02-01
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
We identified specific miRNA groups, mRNA targets, and signaling pathways distinguishing AD, MCI, resilience, ante mortem neuropsychological test performance, post mortem neuropathological burden, and AD risk. These findings highlight the potential of harnessing miRNA activity to manipulate disease-modifying pathways in AD, with implications for precision medicine. HIGHLIGHTS: MicroRNA (MiRNA) dysregulation is a well-established feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Novel miRNAs also distinguish subjects with mild cognitive impairment and putative resilience. MiRNAs correlate with cognitive performance and neuropathological burden. Select miRNAs are associated with AD risk with age as a significant covariate. MiRNA pathways include insulin, prolactin, kinases, and neurite plasticity.
Key findings
- We identified specific miRNA groups, mRNA targets, and signaling pathways distinguishing AD, MCI, resilience, ante mortem neuropsychological test performance, post mortem neuropathological burden, and AD risk.
- These findings highlight the potential of harnessing miRNA activity to manipulate disease-modifying pathways in AD, with implications for precision medicine.
- HIGHLIGHTS: MicroRNA (MiRNA) dysregulation is a well-established feature of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
- Novel miRNAs also distinguish subjects with mild cognitive impairment and putative resilience.
- MiRNAs correlate with cognitive performance and neuropathological burden.
Why it matters
This study identified specific microRNAs and their target pathways that differ among people with Alzheimer's disease, mild cognitive impairment, and cognitive resilience. The findings suggest that manipulating microRNA activity could potentially modify disease pathways, but this is early research and no treatment is tested.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 41/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s & Dementia) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | Alzheimer s & Dementia: journal h-index 228 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 6 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 2.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 6 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Debomoy K. Lahiri: h-index 85 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | New York University: institution h-index 1,612 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 9 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40008917) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 41 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record names 7 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Counts, S., Beck, J. S., Maloney, B. J., Malek‐Ahmadi, M. H., Ginsberg, S. D., Mufson, E. J., et al. (2025). Posterior cingulate cortex microRNA dysregulation differentiates cognitive resilience, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer s & Dementia. https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70019
Vancouver
Counts S, Beck JS, Maloney BJ, Malek‐Ahmadi MH, Ginsberg SD, Mufson EJ, et al. Posterior cingulate cortex microRNA dysregulation differentiates cognitive resilience, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer s & Dementia. 2025. doi:10.1002/alz.70019. PMID: 40008917.
BibTeX
@article{counts2025-40008917,
author = {Counts, Scott and Beck, John Swanson and Maloney, Bryan J. and Malek‐Ahmadi, Michael H. and Ginsberg, Stephen D. and Mufson, Elliott Jay and Lahiri, Debomoy K.},
title = {{Posterior cingulate cortex microRNA dysregulation differentiates cognitive resilience, mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Alzheimer s \& Dementia},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1002/alz.70019},
pmid = {40008917},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1002/alz.70019}
}
Studies this one cites
Referenced by this study and also in the alzhub library, so you can read them here. Showing 12 of 23.