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While we don't yet have a cure for , a newly discovered biomarker may indicate the disease before symptoms appear – which means mitigating treatments can be put in place, and researchers can look more closely at how the condition develops. The biomarker in question is a molecule of called miR-519a-3p, and the team behind its discovery thinks it could give us a vital for . Led by researchers from the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia (IBEC) and the University of Barcelona in Spain, the study detailing the biomarker findings explains how higher levels of miR-519a-3p are found in people with Alzheimer's.

" "We believe that the detection of this microRNA may help to establish additional criteria for a more accurate diagnosis in the early stages of the disease." MicroRNAs such as miR-519a-3p are small non-coding RNA molecules, genetic materials that help cells manage protein production. These microRNAs tend to be stable in the body and are easily detectable in bodily fluids, making them very useful as biomarkers to warn of disease, measure response to treatments, or capture general health status.



This miR-519a-3p molecule is linked to the production of cellular (PrP ), which is to be more abundant in the body in the early stages of Alzheimer's, while its levels decrease as the disease progresses. The researchers used brain tissue taken from people with Alzheimer's after their death, together with chemical tests, to establish that miR-519a-3p promotes decreased production.

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