Nature's "junk DNA" is broken, and scientists have a new understanding of neurological diseases

Scientists have found that the breaking and repair of "junk" DNA affects our protection against neurological disorders, so it may open up new avenues
for the treatment of neurological diseases.
This groundbreaking study from the University of Sheffield's Institute of Neuroscience and the Healthy Lifespan Institute offers important new insights into
so-called junk DNA and how it affects neurological diseases such as motor neuron disease (MND) and Alzheimer's disease.

So far, the repair of 98 percent of DNA's junk DNA has been largely ignored by scientists, but new research published in the journal Nature has found that junk DNA is much more
vulnerable to oxidative damage to the genome than previously thought.
This is of vital importance
for the development of neurological diseases.

The researchers also identified pathways
in which oxidative damage is formed and repaired.
Fixing these breaks in junk DNA is essential
to producing proteins that protect us from disease.

Oxidative stress is an inevitable result of cellular metabolism and can be influenced by factors such as diet, lifestyle, and environment
.
In the long run, oxidative stress can cause damage to human cells, proteins, and DNA, accelerate the aging process, and lead to the development of
neurological diseases such as dementia.

It is hoped that this research could pave the way for further research, which could help speed up detection of disease biomarkers and allow for earlier interventions to help prevent people with associated genes from developing or developing neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's and MND
.

Professor Sherif El-Khamisy, Chair of Molecular Medicine at the University of Sheffield and Co-Founder and Deputy Director of the Institute for Healthy Lifespan, said: "The significance of repairing DNA breaks in a stealthy noncoding genome will open up a whole new area of research, including new targets for therapeutic interventions and biomarkers
.
By treating the components of this pathway, it may help us delay or treat neurological disorders such as dementia
.
So far, repairing what people think of as junk DNA has been largely overlooked, but our research suggests that it may have important implications
for the occurrence and progression of neurological disorders.
Research also suggests that this may make cancer treatment more effective
.
”

Professor Ilaria Bellantuono, co-director of the Institute for Healthy Life at the University of Sheffield, said: "This work is important as it paves the way for being able to identify new medicines to prevent multiple diseases from happening at the same time and enhance resilience in older people
.
"

The study, funded by the Wellcome Foundation and the LIST Institute, could also have important implications for new cancer treatments, as researchers believe that inhibiting the activity of a key component of the pathway (NuMA) may help stop the survival of dormant cancer cells that cannot divide, which is difficult to treat
.

Future research is expected to revolve around working with patients to study pathogenic variants associated with this pathway and working with industry to develop therapeutic interventions to help those with common neurological conditions such as dementia, Alzheimer's disease, MND and Huntington's disease
.