A Peek Inside the Black Box of Epigenetic Clocks
What are they really measuring? The post A Peek Inside the Black Box of Epigenetic Clocks appeared first on Nautilus .
Epigenetic clocks, tools developed to estimate biological age, have become essential in aging research. These clocks, typically based on blood samples, measure the accumulation of methyl groups (CH3) at specific DNA sites that regulate gene expression. Though effective, the exact mechanisms behind these clocks remain somewhat unclear.
A recent study in the journal npj Aging sheds light on this mystery. Conducted by geneticists from the University of Southern California, the research examined blood samples from over 3,000 participants, comparing methylation patterns with gene expression data collected from five different epigenetic clocks. The findings revealed that while no single pathway was common to all clocks, 14 pathways were shared by at least two.
These pathways, which include immune system functions, metabolism, and cell communication, suggest that epigenetic clocks measure various biological processes. The study authors hope this information will aid researchers in selecting the most appropriate clock for their studies. Additionally, they developed a new tool called transcriptomic aging gene scores (TAGS) to enhance the accuracy of epigenetic clocks in predicting health outcomes such as walking speed, heart disease, diabetes, and even mortality.
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