title: The aging memory: Modulating epigenetic modifications to improve cognitive function.
abstract: Age-related cognitive decline is a major concern in society. Here, I discuss recent evidence that shows an age-related modulation of gene transcription by epigenetic modifications. Epigenetic modifications, such as histone acetylation, is unbalanced in aging, with an increase in histone deacetylation, that limits the expression of plasticity-related genes. By modifying the balance towards histone acetylation, histone deacetylase inhibitors present a new pharmacological approach to ameliorate age-related cognitive deficits.
authors.affiliation: Cellular and Systems Neurobiology, Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Oeiras, Portugal. Electronic address: rfonseca@igc.gulbenkian.pt.
authors.forename: Rosalina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Fonseca
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000378:metabolism*; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic / Q000502:physiology*; D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009473:Neuronal Plasticity / Q000502:physiology*
chemical_list: D056572:Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors
keywords: Aging; Epigenetics; Memory; Synaptic-plasticity