Exploring Beyond the DNA Sequence: A Review of Epigenomic Studies of DNA and Histone Modifications in Dementia

AbstractPurpose of ReviewAlthough genome-scale studies have identified many genetic variants associated with dementia, these do not account for all of disease incidence and so recently attention has turned to studying mechanisms of genome regulation. Epigenetic processes such as modifications to the DNA and histones alter transcriptional activity and have been hypothesized to be involved in the etiology of dementia. Here, we review the growing body of literature on dementia epigenomics, with a focus on novel discoveries, current limitations, and future directions for the field.Recent FindingsIt is through advances in genomic technology that large-scale quantification of epigenetic modifications is now possible in dementia. Most of the literature in the field has primarily focussed on exploring DNA modifications, namely DNA methylation, in postmortem brain samples from individuals with Alzheimer ’s disease. However, recent studies have now begun to explore other epigenetic marks, such as histone modifications, investigating these signatures in both the brain and blood, and in a range of other dementias.SummaryThere is still a demand for more epigenomic studies to be conducted in the dementia field, particularly those assessing chromatin dynamics and a broader range of histone modifications. The field faces limitations in sample accessibility with many studies lacking power. Furthermore, the frequent use of heterogeneous bulk tissue containing multiple cell types further hind...
Source: Current Genetic Medicine Reports - Category: Genetics & Stem Cells Source Type: research