What is the Origin of DNA Methylation Age?

The concept was pioneered by researchers like Steve Horvath, who developed the first pan-tissue epigenetic clock by analyzing DNA methylation data from numerous human tissues. It is rooted in the field of epigenetics, the study of heritable changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence. The development provided a robust biomarker for biological aging.

What is the Mechanism of DNA Methylation Age?

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification where a methyl group is added to the fifth carbon of the cytosine base, typically silencing or modulating the expression of nearby genes. The "clock" mechanism is based on the observation that the methylation status of specific CpG sites changes predictably over a lifetime. By measuring the methylation levels at a select set of these age-related CpG sites, a mathematical algorithm can calculate an estimated biological age, providing a proxy for cumulative cellular and systemic damage.

DNA Methylation Age

Meaning

DNA Methylation Age, often referred to as an epigenetic clock, is a highly accurate molecular measure of an individual’s biological age derived from the pattern of methyl groups attached to specific cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpGs) across the genome. This measure often correlates strongly with chronological age but can be accelerated or decelerated by lifestyle factors, environmental exposures, and hormonal status, offering insight into an individual’s true rate of aging. Clinical application allows for a quantifiable assessment of aging that is independent of calendar years.

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