Quantification of Epigenetic Aging in Public Health.

Cynthia D J Kusters, Steve Horvath

1Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; email: [email protected] of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, California, USA; email: [email protected]. · pubmed

Paper

Abstract

Estimators of biological age hold promise for use in preventive medicine, for early detection of chronic conditions, and for monitoring the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving population health. Among the promising biomarkers in this field are DNA methylation-based biomarkers, commonly referred to as epigenetic clocks. This review provides a survey of these clocks, with an emphasis on second-generation clocks that predict human morbidity and mortality. It explores the validity of epigenetic clocks when considering factors such as race, sex differences, lifestyle, and environmental influences. Furthermore, the review addresses the current challenges and limitations in this research area.

The following analysis is generated by AI and may contain errors. It is separate from the authors’ abstract and is not peer review.

Research summary

The paper discusses epigenetic clocks, which are relevant to understanding biological aging and have implications for preventive medicine and monitoring health interventions. However, while it provides a survey of existing research and addresses important factors influencing epigenetic aging, it does not present novel findings or significant advancements in the field. Thus, it contributes solidly to the existing body of knowledge but lacks the transformative impact seen in higher-rated works.

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