DNA damage accumulation in aging brain and its links to Alzheimer’s disease progression

Abstract

DNA, which carries information to build the entire human body, is constantly challenged by a variety of endogenous and environmental agents, ultimately leading to mutations and genomic instability, triggering a wide range of cellular responses and causing diverse human diseases. Cells have evolved a variety of DNA repair mechanisms to respond to DNA damage. Recent findings have linked DNA damage in the brain with many neurological diseases. In this review, we discuss how DNA damage in the brain correlates with Alzheimer’s disease and how the absence of repair mechanisms accelerates age-related Alzheimer’s disease progression. We also review the potential sources of DNA damage, which may be closely associated with cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.