title: [Neuroepigenetics: Desoxyribonucleic acid methylation in Alzheimer's disease and other dementias].
abstract: DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that controls gene expression. In Alzheimer's disease (AD), global DNA hypomethylation of neurons has been described in the human cerebral cortex. Moreover, several variants in the methylation pattern of candidate genes have been identified in brain tissue when comparing AD patients and controls. Specifically, DNA methylation changes have been observed in PSEN1 and APOE, both genes previously being involved in the pathophysiology of AD. In other degenerative dementias, methylation variants have also been described in key genes, such as hypomethylation of the SNCA gene in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies or hypermethylation of the GRN gene promoter in frontotemporal dementia. The finding of aberrant DNA methylation patterns shared by brain tissue and peripheral blood opens the door to use those variants as epigenetic biomarkers in the diagnosis of neurodegenerative diseases.
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España; Navarrabiomed, Pamplona, Navarra, España. Electronic address: tmendioi@navarra.es.
authors.forename: Maite
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mendioroz Iriarte
authors.affiliation: Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Navarra, España; Navarrabiomed, Pamplona, Navarra, España.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pulido Fontes
authors.affiliation: Hospital García Orcoyen, Estella, Navarra, España.
authors.forename: Iván
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Méndez-López
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000235:genetics*; D019175:DNA Methylation; D003704:Dementia / Q000235:genetics; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D005819:Genetic Markers; D006801:Humans
chemical_list: D005819:Genetic Markers
keywords: Alzheimer disease; Demencia; Dementia; Enfermedad de Alzheimer; Epigenetics; Epigenética; Methylation; Metilación