Language
English
Publication Date
1-1-2024
Journal
Human Brain
DOI
10.37819/hb.3.2027
PMID
40538761
PMCID
PMC12178119
PubMedCentral® Posted Date
6-19-2025
PubMedCentral® Full Text Version
Author MSS
Abstract
DNA methylation undergoes significant changes with age. These alterations play a pivotal role in the development of age-related diseases, including Alzheimer's disease (AD). Recent advancements in DNA methylome profiling have revealed global hypomethylation patterns, particularly within repetitive elements, as well as gene-specific changes that are associated with neurodegeneration. Age-related alterations in DNA methylation have been implicated in the disruption of key cellular processes, such as inflammation and proteostasis, both central to AD pathology. However, several challenges persist in this field. One major issue is the inconsistency of findings across different brain regions and tissue types, which complicates result interpretation. Furthermore, the limited understanding of cell-type specificity raises concerns about the generalizability of findings from bulk tissue analyses. Key questions remain in DNA methylation research related to aging and AD, including elucidating the precise mechanisms driving methylation changes, exploring cell-type specificity, determining the functional consequences of these alterations, and investigating cross-tissue correlations. A deeper understanding of the spatiotemporal dynamics of methylation changes, the underlying mechanisms, and their therapeutic implications is essential to the development of novel prevention and treatment strategies. This review will delve into these findings and challenges, offering insights into future research directions.
Keywords
DNA, Methylation, Aging, Alzheimer’s Disease
Published Open-Access
yes
Recommended Citation
Cheng, Raymond; Shu, Jingmin; Chen, Hai; et al., "DNA Methylation in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease" (2024). The Brown Foundation: Institute of Molecular Medicine. 18.
https://digitalcommons.library.tmc.edu/molecular_med/18