The Contribution of Epigenetic Inheritance Processes on Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease
During the last years, epigenetic processes have emerged as important factors for many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These complex diseases seem to have a heritable component; however, genome-wide association studies failed to identify the genetic loci involved in the...
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
MDPI AG
2021-06-01
|
| Series: | Epigenomes |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/5/2/15 |
| _version_ | 1797529669073895424 |
|---|---|
| author | Aina Bellver-Sanchis Mercè Pallàs Christian Griñán-Ferré |
| author_facet | Aina Bellver-Sanchis Mercè Pallàs Christian Griñán-Ferré |
| author_sort | Aina Bellver-Sanchis |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | During the last years, epigenetic processes have emerged as important factors for many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These complex diseases seem to have a heritable component; however, genome-wide association studies failed to identify the genetic loci involved in the etiology. So, how can these changes be transmitted from one generation to the next? Answering this question would allow us to understand how the environment can affect human populations for multiple generations and explain the high prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD. This review pays particular attention to the relationship among epigenetics, cognition, and neurodegeneration across generations, deepening the understanding of the relevance of heritability in neurodegenerative diseases. We highlight some recent examples of EI induced by experiences, focusing on their contribution of processes in learning and memory to point out new targets for therapeutic interventions. Here, we first describe the prominent role of epigenetic factors in memory processing. Then, we briefly discuss aspects of EI. Additionally, we summarize evidence of how epigenetic marks inherited by experience and/or environmental stimuli contribute to cognitive status offspring since better knowledge of EI can provide clues in the appearance and development of age-related cognitive decline and AD. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:17:03Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-ea058d68b9f44fc490c75e4ef0bc39a5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2075-4655 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T10:17:03Z |
| publishDate | 2021-06-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Epigenomes |
| spelling | doaj.art-ea058d68b9f44fc490c75e4ef0bc39a52023-11-22T00:46:51ZengMDPI AGEpigenomes2075-46552021-06-01521510.3390/epigenomes5020015The Contribution of Epigenetic Inheritance Processes on Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s DiseaseAina Bellver-Sanchis0Mercè Pallàs1Christian Griñán-Ferré2Pharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, SpainPharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, SpainPharmacology Section, Department of Pharmacology, Toxicology, and Therapeutic Chemistry, Faculty of Pharmacy and Food Sciences, Institute of Neuroscience, University of Barcelona (NeuroUB), Av Joan XXIII 27-31, 08028 Barcelona, SpainDuring the last years, epigenetic processes have emerged as important factors for many neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). These complex diseases seem to have a heritable component; however, genome-wide association studies failed to identify the genetic loci involved in the etiology. So, how can these changes be transmitted from one generation to the next? Answering this question would allow us to understand how the environment can affect human populations for multiple generations and explain the high prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as AD. This review pays particular attention to the relationship among epigenetics, cognition, and neurodegeneration across generations, deepening the understanding of the relevance of heritability in neurodegenerative diseases. We highlight some recent examples of EI induced by experiences, focusing on their contribution of processes in learning and memory to point out new targets for therapeutic interventions. Here, we first describe the prominent role of epigenetic factors in memory processing. Then, we briefly discuss aspects of EI. Additionally, we summarize evidence of how epigenetic marks inherited by experience and/or environmental stimuli contribute to cognitive status offspring since better knowledge of EI can provide clues in the appearance and development of age-related cognitive decline and AD.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/5/2/15epigenetic mechanismslearning processmemory formationcognitive declineintergenerational epigenetic inheritancetransgenerational epigenetic inheritance |
| spellingShingle | Aina Bellver-Sanchis Mercè Pallàs Christian Griñán-Ferré The Contribution of Epigenetic Inheritance Processes on Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease Epigenomes epigenetic mechanisms learning process memory formation cognitive decline intergenerational epigenetic inheritance transgenerational epigenetic inheritance |
| title | The Contribution of Epigenetic Inheritance Processes on Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease |
| title_full | The Contribution of Epigenetic Inheritance Processes on Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease |
| title_fullStr | The Contribution of Epigenetic Inheritance Processes on Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Contribution of Epigenetic Inheritance Processes on Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease |
| title_short | The Contribution of Epigenetic Inheritance Processes on Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Alzheimer’s Disease |
| title_sort | contribution of epigenetic inheritance processes on age related cognitive decline and alzheimer s disease |
| topic | epigenetic mechanisms learning process memory formation cognitive decline intergenerational epigenetic inheritance transgenerational epigenetic inheritance |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4655/5/2/15 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT ainabellversanchis thecontributionofepigeneticinheritanceprocessesonagerelatedcognitivedeclineandalzheimersdisease AT mercepallas thecontributionofepigeneticinheritanceprocessesonagerelatedcognitivedeclineandalzheimersdisease AT christiangrinanferre thecontributionofepigeneticinheritanceprocessesonagerelatedcognitivedeclineandalzheimersdisease AT ainabellversanchis contributionofepigeneticinheritanceprocessesonagerelatedcognitivedeclineandalzheimersdisease AT mercepallas contributionofepigeneticinheritanceprocessesonagerelatedcognitivedeclineandalzheimersdisease AT christiangrinanferre contributionofepigeneticinheritanceprocessesonagerelatedcognitivedeclineandalzheimersdisease |