Our study evidences for the first time the involvement of 3'-UTR in the modulation of CDK5R1 expression by the presence of both destabilizing and stabilizing cis-regulatory elements in 3'-UTR, also supporting the hypothesis that CDK5R1 gene expression is controlled in neurons by nELAV-mediated mechanisms, with potential implications in neurodegenerative and cognitive disorders. Here, CDK5R1 is linked to cognitive disorder.