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LINE1 retrotransposons are members of a class of mobile genetic elements capable of retrotransposition in the genome via a process of reverse transcription. LINE1 repeats, integrating into different chromosomal loci, affect the activity of genes and cause different genomic mutations. Somatic variability of the human genome is linked to the activity of some subfamilies of LINE1, in particular, a high level of LINE1 retrotranspositions has been observed in brain tissues. However, the contribution of LINE1 to genomic variability during normal aging and in age-related neurodegenerative diseases is poorly understood. We conducted quantitative real-time PCR analysis of active subfamilies of LINE1 repeats (aL1) using genomic DNA extracted from brain specimens of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients and individuals without neuropsychiatric pathologies, as well as DNA extracted from blood specimens of individuals of different ages (healthy and AD subjects). Inter-individual quantitative variations of active families of aL1 repeats in the genome were observed. No significant age-dependent differences were identified. Likewise, no difference of aL1 copy number in brain and blood were indicated between AD patients and the aged-matched control group without dementia. These data imply that aging and the AD-associated neurodegenerative process are not the major factors contributing to the retrotransposition processes of active LINE1 repeats.

Genome-wide association studies have identified novel risk variants for Alzheimer's disease (AD). Among these, a gene carrying one of the highest risks for AD is PICALM. The PICALM rs3851179 A allele is thought to have a protective effect, whereas the G allele appears to confer risk for AD. The influence of the PICALM genotype on brain function in nondemented subjects remains largely unknown. We examined the possible effect of the PICALM rs3851179 genotype on quantitative electroencephalography recording at rest in 137 nondemented volunteers (age range: 20-79 years) subdivided into cohorts of those younger than and those older than 50 years of age. The homozygous presence of the AD risk variant PICALM GG was associated with an increase in beta relative power, with the effect being more pronounced in the older cohort. Beta power elevation in resting-state electroencephalography has previously been linked to cortical disinhibition and hyperexcitability. The increase in beta relative power in the carriers of the AD risk PICALM GG genotype suggests changes in the cortical excitatory-inhibitory balance, which are heightened during normal aging., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)