Abstract
The dynamic regulation of synaptic plasticity underlies memory formation, involving intricate signaling pathways with both facilitatory and inhibitory roles. MicroRNAs are emerging modulators of memory processes through their fine-tuning of gene expression. To explore the influence of miRNAs on adolescent cognitive function, we investigated the association between academic performance, cognitive ability as measured by the Inquiry for Scientific Thinking, Analytics, and Reasoning test, and plasma miRNA profiling in 486 senior high school students. Our analysis identified 38 differentially expressed miRNAs between students with high and low academic performance. Notably, miR-219 b/548e/628/885 and miR-30a/30c-1/195/204 potentially targeted genes associated with the CaMKII/SIRT1 signaling pathway, a crucial facilitator of memory consolidation. Collectively, our findings suggest that specific plasma miRNAs, particularly the CaMKII/SIRT1-related miR-30a/30c-1/195/204 cluster, potentially serve as promising biomarkers for cognitive function in adolescents. Our findings further support the proposed interaction between NF-kB activity and CaMKIIα in regulating synaptic plasticity. Under hypomethylation conditions, increased NF-kB activity, a key component of inflammation and neural plasticity, influences learning and memory. This biological pathway, representing the initiation of epigenetic memory, demonstrates significant predictive power for both cognitive ability and academic performance.