Epigenetic age
DEEpigenetisches Alter
Reviewed by Maurice Lichtenberg
Epigenetic age is a biological-age estimate derived from DNA-methylation patterns at selected CpG sites, computed by algorithms known as epigenetic clocks (e.g. Horvath, Hannum, PhenoAge, GrimAge, DunedinPACE). The difference between epigenetic and chronological age, called epigenetic age acceleration, is associated with mortality, cardiovascular disease and cancer in research cohorts. Validation depends on the specific clock; first-generation clocks track chronological age, while mortality-trained clocks better predict health outcomes. Commercial consumer tests vary in reliability.
Sources
- Horvath S. (2013). DNA methylation age of human tissues and cell types. *Genome Biology*doi:10.1186/gb-2013-14-10-r115
- Quach A, Levine ME, Tanaka T, Lu AT, Chen BH, Ferrucci L, et al.. (2017). Epigenetic clock analysis of diet, exercise, education, and lifestyle factors. *Aging*doi:10.18632/aging.101168