Peripheral DNA methylation, cognitive decline and brain aging: pilot findings from the Whitehall II imaging study.

ABSTRACT:

Aim

The present study investigated the link between peripheral DNA methylation (DNAm), cognitive impairment and brain aging.

Methods

We tested the association between blood genome-wide DNAm profiles using the Illumina 450K arrays, cognitive dysfunction and brain MRI measures in selected participants of the Whitehall II imaging sub-study.

Results

Eight differentially methylated regions were associated with cognitive impairment. Accelerated aging based on the Hannum epigenetic clock was associated with mean diffusivity and global fractional anisotropy. We also identified modules of co-methylated loci associated with white matter hyperintensities. These co-methylation modules were enriched among pathways relevant to β-amyloid processing and glutamatergic signaling.

Co

SUBMITTER: Chouliaras L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6021930 | biostudies-literature | 2018 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature