Synaptic genes are extensively downregulated across multiple brain regions in normal human aging and Alzheimer's disease.

ABSTRACT: Synapses are essential for transmitting, processing, and storing information, all of which decline in aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Because synapse loss only partially accounts for the cognitive declines seen in aging and AD, we hypothesized that existing synapses might undergo molecular changes that reduce their functional capacity. Microarrays were used to evaluate expression profiles of 340 synaptic genes in aging (20-99 years) and AD across 4 brain regions from 81 cases. The analysis revealed an unexpectedly large number of significant expression changes in synapse-related genes in aging, with many undergoing progressive downregulation across aging and AD. Functional classification of the genes showing altered expression revealed that multiple aspects of synaptic function are aff

SUBMITTER: Berchtold NC 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4022280 | biostudies-literature | 2013 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature