The Epigenetic Clock is a biochemical measure of biological age that estimates the chronological age of a tissue or organism by analyzing the pattern of DNA methylation at specific genomic sites. This measure often deviates from chronological age, providing a more insightful indicator of an individual’s cumulative exposure to physiological stress and environmental factors. Clinically, the difference between biological and chronological age, termed age acceleration, is a powerful biomarker correlated with all-cause mortality and various age-related diseases.
Origin
The concept emerged from the field of epigenetics in the early 2010s with the development of specific algorithms, such as the Horvath clock, that demonstrated a remarkably strong correlation between DNA methylation status and chronological age across diverse human tissues. This discovery provided the first robust, multi-tissue molecular biomarker for aging. The term ‘clock’ emphasizes its predictive, time-telling capacity.
Mechanism
The clock functions by observing the methylation status of specific cytosine-guanine dinucleotides (CpG sites), which are dynamically regulated by DNA methyltransferases and demethylases. These methylation patterns are not static; they are influenced by hormonal signaling, inflammation, and metabolic state, reflecting the cumulative physiological wear and tear. The resulting methylation signature at these defined loci provides the input for the mathematical model that calculates the estimated biological age.
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