A Higher Epigenetic Measure of Age Correlates with Increased Breast Cancer Risk

Epigenetic clocks use patterns of DNA methylation that correlate with age. Numerous studies have shown that people with epigenetic age higher than chronological age have a raised risk of disease. This works the other way as well; patient populations with a range of age-related diseases tend to have higher epigenetic age measures than their healthier peers of the same chronological age. The study noted here is the most recent in a growing body of evidence to suggest that epigenetic clocks measure something potentially useful about aging. What exactly it is about aging that epigenetic clocks measure is still an open question, however. The patterns of DNA methylation were discovered by analysis of epigenetic data by age, not built from an understanding of the underlying processes. It is quite possible that they reflect only a fraction of the important processes in aging, which is fine when aging proceeds in a unified way, all processes roughly aligned with one another, but the utility of such clocks will end when it becomes possible to address any one specific process of aging via rejuvenation therapies. Take clearance of senescent cells, for example: at this point no-one has the first idea as to what that will do to epigenetic clock measures, and until data is established the clocks aren't all that helpful for developers working on senolytic therapies to selectively destroy senescent cells. Scientists speculate that biologic age may be tied to environmental expo...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs