Neuroepigenetics of Aging and Age-Related Neurodegenerative Disorders

Abstract

Neurodegenerative diseases are complex, progressive disorders and affect millions of people worldwide, contributing significantly to the global burden of disease. In recent years, research has begun to investigate epigenetic mechanisms for a potential role in disease etiology. In this chapter, we describe the current state of play for epigenetic research into neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease and Huntington's disease. We focus on the recent evidence for a potential role of DNA modifications, histone modifications and non-coding RNA in the etiology of these disorders. Finally, we discuss how new technological and bioinformatics advances in the field of epigenetics could further progress our understanding about the underlying mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases.

Keywords: Aging; Alzheimer's disease; Epigenetics; Huntington's disease; Parkinson's disease.