Epigenetic changes and cognitive decline in aging: integrative review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.34024/rnc.2025.v33.19832Keywords:
Aging, Cognitive decline, Epigenetics, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's diseaseAbstract
Objective. Investigate, through an integrative review, which epigenetic alterations contribute to cognitive decline and the onset of neurodegenerative diseases due to aging. Method. The search will utilize the PubMed and LILACS databases, along with descriptors such as “epigenetics and cognitive decline,” “epigenetics of Alzheimer’s disease,” and “epigenetics and Parkinson’s disease,” along with synonyms and related terms. Original articles involving animals or humans published in the last 10 years in English, Portuguese, and Spanish will be included. Screening and selection will involve analyzing the title and abstract of each article to determine relevance, followed by a full reading of selected articles to evaluate their quality and contribution to the work. Results. In the results of this study, 20 scientific articles investigating epigenetic influences on cognition were analyzed, with na emphasis on DNA acetylation and methylation alterations. The evaluation indicated that acetylation is strongly associated with improved cognition, promoting gene expression and optimizing neural processes involved in memory and learning. On the other hand, methylation was widely linked to cognitive decline, often associated with the inhibition of crucial genes for maintaining brain functions and the progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Conclusion. It is concluded that epigenetic modifications play na essential role in regulating cognitive processes, presenting varied impacts depending on the type of modification. These findings highlight the relevance of therapeutic strategies aimed at modulating acetylation and methylation, pointing to their potential as an approach to prevent or mitigate cognitive decline, particularly in contexts related to aging or neurodegenerative diseases.
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