Where Environment Meets Cognition: A Focus on Two Developmental Intellectual Disability Disorders

Neural Plast. 2016:2016:4235898. doi: 10.1155/2016/4235898. Epub 2016 Jul 28.

Abstract

One of the most challenging questions in neuroscience is to dissect how learning and memory, the foundational pillars of cognition, are grounded in stable, yet plastic, gene expression states. All known epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and hydroxymethylation, histone modifications, chromatin remodelling, and noncoding RNAs regulate brain gene expression, both during neurodevelopment and in the adult brain in processes related to cognition. On the other hand, alterations in the various components of the epigenetic machinery have been linked to well-known causes of intellectual disability disorders (IDDs). Two examples are Down Syndrome (DS) and Fragile X Syndrome (FXS), where global and local epigenetic alterations lead to impairments in synaptic plasticity, memory, and learning. Since epigenetic modifications are reversible, it is theoretically possible to use epigenetic drugs as cognitive enhancers for the treatment of IDDs. Epigenetic treatments act in a context specific manner, targeting different regions based on cell and state specific chromatin accessibility, facilitating the establishment of the lost balance. Here, we discuss epigenetic studies of IDDs, focusing on DS and FXS, and the use of epidrugs in combinatorial therapies for IDDs.

Publication types

  • Review
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Antioxidants / pharmacology
  • Antioxidants / therapeutic use
  • Catechin / analogs & derivatives
  • Catechin / pharmacology
  • Catechin / therapeutic use
  • Cognition / drug effects
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • DNA Methylation / genetics
  • Down Syndrome / genetics*
  • Down Syndrome / psychology
  • Down Syndrome / therapy
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / drug effects
  • Epigenesis, Genetic / genetics*
  • Fragile X Syndrome / genetics*
  • Fragile X Syndrome / psychology
  • Fragile X Syndrome / therapy
  • Gene-Environment Interaction*
  • Genetic Therapy / methods
  • Genetic Therapy / trends*
  • Humans
  • Intellectual Disability / genetics
  • Intellectual Disability / psychology
  • Intellectual Disability / therapy
  • Protein Interaction Domains and Motifs / genetics

Substances

  • Antioxidants
  • Catechin
  • epigallocatechin gallate