title: Epigenetic contributions to cognitive aging: disentangling mindspan and lifespan.
abstract: Epigenetic modifications of chromatin structure provide a mechanistic interface for gene-environment interactions that impact the individualization of health trajectories across the lifespan. A growing body of research indicates that dysfunctional epigenetic regulation contributes to poor cognitive outcomes among aged populations. Here we review neuroepigenetic research as it relates to cognitive aging, focusing specifically on memory function mediated by the hippocampal system. Recent work that differentiates epigenetic contributions to chronological aging from influences on mindspan, or the preservation of normal cognitive abilities across the lifespan, is also highlighted. Together, current evidence indicates that while age-related memory impairment is associated with dysfunction in the coordinated regulation of chromatin modification, animal models that show individual differences in cognitive outcome underscore the enormous mechanistic complexity that surrounds epigenetic dynamics in the aged hippocampus.
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Aging Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Amy M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Spiegel
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Aging Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA.
authors.forename: Angila S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Sewal
authors.affiliation: Neurocognitive Aging Section, Laboratory of Behavioral Neuroscience, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, Maryland 21224, USA rappp@mail.nih.gov.
authors.forename: Peter R
authors.initials: PR
authors.lastname: Rapp
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D042002:Chromatin Assembly and Disassembly; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000502:physiology*; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007858:Learning / Q000502:physiology; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D051379:Mice; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000235:genetics; D051381:Rats
chemical_list: D006655:Histone Deacetylases