ReviewGenome instability: Linking ageing and brain degeneration

- Genetic variation in maintenance of genome stability is a determinant of ageing.
- Genome instability is often associated with neurodegeneration.
- There are similarities and differences between brain decline associated with ageing and the same process when associated with genome instability.
- The importance of glia and microglia in these processes has probably been underestimated.

Ageing is a multifactorial process affected by cumulative physiological changes resulting from stochastic processes combined with genetic factors, which together alter metabolic homeostasis. Genetic variation in maintenance of genome stability is emerging as an important determinant of ageing pace. Genome instability is also closely associated with a broad spectrum of conditions involving brain degeneration. Similarities and differences can be found between ageing-associated decline of brain functionality and the detrimental effect of genome instability on brain functionality and development. This review discusses these similarities and differences and highlights cell classes whose role in these processes might have been underestimated-glia and microglia.