Blood DNA methylation signatures to detect dementia prior to overt clinical symptoms

Abstract

Introduction: This study determined whether blood DNA methylation (DNAm) patterns differentiate individuals with presymptomatic dementia compared to controls. Methods: DNAm was measured in 73 individuals prior to dementia diagnosis and 87 cognitively healthy controls matched for age, sex, smoking, education, and baseline cognition. DNAm was also measured at 3 years follow-up in 25 dementia cases, and 24 controls. Results: Cases and controls differed in DNAm (unadjusted P