Parallel changes in gene expression in aged human and mouse cortex

The intensity of expression of over 20,000 genes and expressed sequence tags within the cerebral cortex has previously been described for both the human and mouse genomes. In both these species, the degree of expression of a relatively limited number of cortical genes, around 300, is significantly altered during senescence. The extent of similarity between age-related alterations of levels of specific mRNAs in either species has been compared. There is a significant correlation between species in those genes whose expression changes markedly in either direction with aging. This parallel serves to validate the use of mouse strains to study general age-related genetic events associated with aging.