How Epigenetic Clocks Tick: Unpacking The Black Box By Deciphering Biological Pathways And Transcriptomic Signatures Of Accelerated Aging
Have you ever wondered why some people seem to age faster or slower than their chronological years suggest? Scientists use “epigenetic clocks” to measure our biological age, which can be a better predictor of health and lifespan than simply counting birthdays. However, these clocks have largely been a “black box,” meaning we haven’t fully understood the underlying biological processes they reflect.
Recent research has shed light on this mystery by looking closely at how these clocks work. It turns out that different epigenetic clocks don’t all measure the same thing. Instead, they are connected to a variety of distinct biological pathways and gene activity patterns in our bodies. This means that each clock might be capturing different aspects of the complex aging process.
The study also introduced “transcriptomic aging gene scores” (TAGS), which are based on gene expression – essentially, which genes are active. These scores were found to complement the existing epigenetic clocks and, in some cases, even showed stronger links to age-related health issues, physical abilities, and even mortality. By deciphering these unique biological signatures, we gain a clearer understanding of how these powerful tools predict aging-related health trajectories, paving the way for more targeted interventions and clinical applications in the future.
Source: link to paper