VUGENE highlights a study exploring the epigenetic and metabolic landscape of Dementia with Lewy Bodies (DLB), uncovering potential biomarkers and offering new insights into disease mechanisms.
VUGENE’s team, together with collaborators, analyzed postmortem brain tissues to integrate epigenetic and metabolic data using integrative multi-omics methods, providing a more comprehensive view of the disease’s pathology.
Key insights from the study:
Epigenetic alterations: Increased DNA hypermethylation, especially in genes related to synaptic activity and olfactory function, aligning with known DLB symptoms.
Metabolic disruptions: Changes in Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) biosynthesis pathways suggest a link to neurodegeneration.
Sex-specific differences: Females exhibited more epigenetic and metabolomic changes than males. Understanding these pathways offers insights into sex-specific mechanisms of DLB and could guide the development of targeted interventions.
Potential therapeutic targets: Disruptions in the PTDSS1 and PCYT2 genes within the PE biosynthesis pathway highlight possible intervention points.
By integrating epigenomic and metabolomic data using multi-omics approaches, this study deepens our understanding of DLB’s molecular landscape, paving the way for sex-specific therapeutic strategies and novel biomarkers.
Vishweswaraiah, S., Yilmaz, A., Gordevičius, J., Milčiūtė, M., Krinickis, K., Kerševičiūtė, I., McGuinness, B., Passmore, P., Kehoe, P. G., Green, B. D., Radhakrishna, U., Graham, S. F. (2025). Epigenetic and Metabolic Landscape of Dementia with Lewy Bodies. Movement Disorders, vol 40 (3).
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Written by: Milda Milčiūtė
Cover image credits: Atthapon / Adobe Stock