Impacts of DNA methylation on Tau protein related genes in the brains of patients with Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract

As the most common cause of dementia, Alzheimer s disease (AD) is progressively neurodegenerative disease. In the initial stage, Alzheimer s disease is related to the memory disorder, followed by a serious progressive decline in cognitive function, and finally died. Neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs) deposited in neurons form one of the histopathological features of AD. NFTs are composed of abnormally modified forms, such as hyperphosphorylation, of tau protein. DNA methylation on Tau protein related genes in the brains of AD patients plays an important role in AD pathogenesis. In this paper, the process and role of gene methylation in abnormal Tau modification and aggregation in the development of Alzheimer s disease were discussed. The effect of DNA methylation on tau protein in the brain of patients with Alzheimer s disease will help to find new targets in the development of drugs for treating Alzheimer s disease.