Towards the Use of Epigenetic Clocks in Clinical Trials

Despite the challenges inherent in the practical use of epigenetic clocks based on age-related changes in DNA methylation, clinical trials are forging ahead in the employment of these clocks. The assays are cheap enough that there is a sense of "why not?" and, considered over patient populations rather than in individuals, an epigenetic age higher than chronological age correlates well with risk and progression of age-related disease. It remains problematic for any given individual to extract meaning from an epigenetic clock assay, however. It is unclear as to what exactly the measured age-related changes in DNA methylation reflect, in terms of the underlying damage and dysfunction of aging, and thus results are not yet actionable for the individual. Geroscience is a developing discipline based on the premise that health can be improved by targeting aging. Clinical trials are underway to test the geroscience hypothesis in humans. Definitive tests of the hypothesis must demonstrate reduced rates of age-related diseases and death, but the length of time and size of trial needed to test the hypothesis are both substantial. Therefore, objective, quantifiable characteristics of the aging process - known as biomarkers - that can be tracked in clinical trials are needed for the field to progress. Useful biomarkers should meet several criteria: i) their measurement should be reliable and feasible; ii) they should be relevant to aging; iii) they should robustly and con...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs