Neuropsychiatric Aspects of Healthy Aging: an Epidemiological Approach

Abstract

Ageing is becoming a significant global challenge which will require economic and social adjustments. Aging causes morphological changes in the brain associated with increased prevalence and incidence of neuropsychiatric diseases, mostly depression, Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD). Neuropsychiatric diseases impair quality of life and pose a high economic burden to individuals and society. Thus, in order to better face these challenging diseases, it is of importance to understand factors that could contribute in their pathophysiology. It is now widely accepted that there is a strong genetic component in the development of neurodegenerative diseases, whereas emerging evidence is indicating also epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone acetylation as key players in the development of AD and PD. Also, women due to longer lifespans and unique