DNA Methylation of Synaptic Genes in the Prefrontal Cortex is Associated with Aging and Age-Related Cognitive Impairment

The results indicate that differential methylation was linked to the expression of genes within functional categories which may mediate impaired cognition in aging. Differences in aging included hypermethylation of genes linked to synaptic function and GTPase activity. Further, age-related cognitive flexibility impairment was correlated to hypermethylation of synaptic, postsynaptic density and ion channel activity genes.