Genomic integrity and the ageing brain

Nat Rev Neurosci. 2015 Nov;16(11):672-84. doi: 10.1038/nrn4020. Epub 2015 Oct 14.

Abstract

DNA damage is correlated with and may drive the ageing process. Neurons in the brain are postmitotic and are excluded from many forms of DNA repair; therefore, neurons are vulnerable to various neurodegenerative diseases. The challenges facing the field are to understand how and when neuronal DNA damage accumulates, how this loss of genomic integrity might serve as a 'time keeper' of nerve cell ageing and why this process manifests itself as different diseases in different individuals.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics*
  • Aging / pathology
  • Animals
  • Brain / pathology
  • Brain / physiology*
  • Cell Cycle / genetics
  • DNA Damage / genetics*
  • DNA Repair / genetics
  • Genomics* / trends
  • Humans
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / genetics
  • Neurodegenerative Diseases / pathology