Editorial: Defective DNA damage response–Repair axis in post-mitotic neurons in human health and neurodegenerative diseases

Efficient DNA repair processes are essential for the maintenance of genomic integrity and therefore cellular homeostasis. Due to their post-mitotic nature, neurons cannot be replenished like other cell types and thus they must deal with DNA lesions throughout their lifespan, implying that DNA damage is particularly deleterious to these cells. DNA damage accumulates in neurodegenerative diseases, and thus may contribute to the selective death of specific types of neurons. However, DNA lesions are required for the regulation of neuronal gene expression and synaptic function and thus DNA damage is significant in normal physiological processes.