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.研究结果表明，差异性甲基化（differential methylation）与衰老进程中可介导认知受损的功能类基因的表达存在关联。衰老相关的甲基化差异包括与突触功能及GTP酶活性（GTPase activity）相关基因的高甲基化（hypermethylation）。此外，与年龄相关的认知灵活性受损，与突触相关、突触后致密区（postsynaptic density）以及离子通道活性相关基因的高甲基化存在相关性。