Expression levels of blood microRNAs as biomarker of cognitive decline due to Alzheimer's Disease

years. Preventive strategies initiated during this silent phase of AD are aiming to hinder the
neurodegenerative process and the onset of clinical symptoms. Accurate identification of
individuals at risk of progression towards mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a prodromal stage of
AD is imperative. To date, no validated method has been described. Micro RNA (miRNA) are
short, non-coding RNA molecules that modify gene expression post-transcriptionally. Differential
expression of miRNA has been described in blood of patients with AD. No study so far has
investigated the possible difference in miRNA expression in individuals at risk of developing
MCI.
Aims/Objectives/ Hypotheses: The aim of this study is to investigate differences in miRNA
expression levels in blood from cognitively healthy individuals over the age of 60 and at different
risk of progression towards AD in relation to longitudinal clinical, cognitive and biomarker
changes.
Brief description of the project: We will analyse data collected from the CHARIOT PRO main
study, a large prospective, longitudinal, observational single-centre study based in West London.
Abundance of specific miRNA molecules has been measured by real time PCR in RNA extracted
from blood samples taken at baseline. Changes in cognitive profile will be assessed using the
Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS). The role of
independent predictors on RBANS change at baseline and longitudinally will be assessed using
appropriate statistical modelling.