One-carbon metabolism and Alzheimer's disease: is it all a methylation matter?

Neurobiol Aging. 2011 Jul;32(7):1192-5. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2011.01.012. Epub 2011 Apr 23.

Abstract

The sporadic form of Alzheimer disease, late onset Alzheimer's disease (LOAD), is a multifactorial disease; a strong link between nutritional and genetic factors with normal aging and dementia is supported by studies on nutrition, metabolism, and neurodegeneration. Specifically, the involvement of homocysteine (HCY) and its dietary determinants (vitamins B6, B12, and folate, besides methionine) in dementia has been a topic of intense investigation. In this Commentary we would like to highlight the role of 1-carbon metabolism in epigenetics and Alzheimer's disease and evidence the co-involvement of this metabolism in amyloid and tau pathways.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Comment

MeSH terms

  • Aging / genetics*
  • Alzheimer Disease / genetics*
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / physiology*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Humans