Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 5, 2026
08:09
Gene-environment Interaction Models to Unmask Susceptibility Mechanisms in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: January 7, 2014
Epigenetic Mechanisms Underlying Cognitive Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease: Current Evidence and Future Prospects
Fatemeh Hasani1,2, Mohammad Ebrahim Kherad2, Mohammad Sharifi Sarasyabi3
1Neuroscience Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran.
Brain and Behavior
|July 30, 2026
Summary
Epigenetic changes, like DNA methylation and histone modification, may explain cognitive issues in Parkinson's disease (PD). Further research is needed to explore these epigenetic mechanisms as potential therapeutic targets.
Area of Science:
- Epigenetics and neurobiology
- Molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration
Background:
- Epigenetics involves inheritable cellular changes without altering DNA sequence.
- It is key to understanding gene-environment interactions affecting cognition.
- Epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in the cognitive impairment seen in Parkinson's disease (PD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To review how epigenetic alterations influence gene expression.
- To explore the role of epigenetics in cognitive dysfunction in PD.
Main Methods:
- Synthesized existing literature on epigenetic mechanisms (miRNA, histone modification, DNA methylation).
- Analyzed studies on epigenetic impacts on neuronal function and cognition in PD.
- Examined contributions to neuroinflammation, synaptic remodeling, and neuroprotection.
Main Results:
- Epigenetic modifications alter gene expression by changing chromatin structure.
- Dysregulation of DNA methylation, histone modification, and miRNA expression is linked to PD cognitive deficits.
- Current research is limited and heterogeneous.
Conclusions:
- Epigenetic regulation offers insights into cognitive impairment in PD.
- These mechanisms highlight gene-environment interactions in neurodegeneration.
- Further studies are required to identify specific epigenetic alterations and their therapeutic potential.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Parkinson Disease ll: Pathophysiology
Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily affecting movement, with additional non-motor features. Its pathophysiology involves complex interactions among genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and cellular dysfunction, including dopaminergic neuron loss, protein aggregation, and mitochondrial impairment.Selective NeurodegenerationA key feature is the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta, leading to reduced...
01:15Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Neurodegenerative disorders are progressive diseases that cause irreversible damage and loss to neurons in specific brain areas. Examples of these disorders include Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). These disorders share characteristics such as proteinopathies, selective neuronal vulnerability, and a complex interplay between genetic and environmental factors. The primary therapeutic goal for these conditions is to...
01:24Parkinson Disease l: Introduction
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic, progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects movement. It is characterized by motor symptoms such as resting tremors, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia (slowness of movement), and postural instability. Patients may notice hand tremors at rest, stiffness during movement, or a shuffling gait. In addition to motor features, non-motor symptoms include sleep disturbances, mood and behavioral changes, constipation, and cognitive impairment, all of which...
01:24Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Neurodegenerative disorders, such as Parkinson's Disease (PD), involve the gradual and irreversible destruction of neurons in particular brain areas. These disorders exhibit standard features like proteinopathies, selective vulnerability of some neurons, and an interaction of intrinsic properties, genetics, and environmental influences in neural injury.
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of its...
01:26Alzheimer's Disease: Overview
Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is a continually advancing neurodegenerative disorder, distinguished by escalating memory loss, cognitive dysfunction, and dementia. The disease unfolds in three stages: preclinical, mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and dementia. Its onset is insidious, and the progression gradual, with the cause not well explained by other disorders.
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
The clinical diagnosis of AD hinges on the presence of memory and other cognitive impairments. Biomarkers, such as changes in Aβ and tau...
01:37Neural Regulation
Digestion begins with a cephalic phase that prepares the digestive system to receive food. When our brain processes visual or olfactory information about food, it triggers impulses in the cranial nerves innervating the salivary glands and stomach to prepare for food.