Direct protection of neurons has been shown for miR-23a in spinal muscular atrophy [99] and for miR-27a in EAE and TBI by, respectively, reducing excitotoxicity through suppression of glutamate receptor subunits [168] and reducing oxidative injury by suppressing FOXO1 and FOXO3a [100, 101]. This evidence concerns the gene FOXO1 and proximal spinal muscular atrophy.