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Epigenetic Influence on Decline

Meaning

Epigenetic Influence on Decline refers to the non-genetic mechanisms that alter gene expression and contribute significantly to the functional deterioration associated with biological aging. These influences include DNA methylation patterns, histone modifications, and non-coding RNA activity, which do not change the underlying DNA sequence but dictate which genes are transcriptionally active or silent. This concept acknowledges that environmental and lifestyle factors actively modulate the rate of age-related decline by progressively altering the epigenome.