Somatic mutations: recent advances in brain aging and neurodegeneration.

Stephanie R Oatman; August Y Huang; Michael B Miller

doi:10.1016/j.gde.2026.102519

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Somatic mutations: recent advances in brain aging and neurodegeneration.

Stephanie R Oatman·August Y Huang·Michael B Miller

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Abstract

Somatic mutations are genetic variants that occur after the single-cell phase of development and have been implicated in disease pathogenesis. While most DNA lesions are detected and repaired, examination of healthy tissue has revealed that some lesions escape repair, leading to somatic mutations that accumulate at a consistent rate, including in human brain tissue and postmitotic neurons. Emerging methodological and analytical advances have revealed the presence of persistent mutagenic mechanisms during healthy brain aging as well as mutational pattern shifts in the context of neurodegenerative diseases. Here, we highlight recent methodological advances, summarize our current understanding of somatic mutagenesis in neurotypical brain aging, and examine the role of somatic mutations in neurodegenerative diseases.

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Humans Neurodegenerative Diseases Aging Brain Mutation Animals Neurons Mutagenesis Journal Article Review

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Stephanie R Oatman, August Y Huang, Michael B Miller. 2026-07-31. Somatic mutations: recent advances in brain aging and neurodegeneration.. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gde.2026.102519

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Journal Article; Review resource Aging subject Animals subject Brain subject Humans subject Journal Article subject Mutation subject Neurodegenerative Diseases subject

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