Better Diet and Exercise Choices Slow the Progression of Epigenetic Aging in Distinct Ways

Epigenetic clocks were developed by correlating observed changes in DNA methylation with age. Aging produces characteristic changes in cell behavior due to damage and dysfunction. While the nature of these changes is the same in every individual, the pace at which aging processes differs somewhat, the result of differing lifestyle choices and environmental exposures, such as particulate air pollution and persistent viral infection. When measured epigenetic age is greater than chronological age, this is referred to as epigenetic age acceleration, and this appears to be a useful measure of the degree to which an individual is aging more rapidly than the average. GrimAge is one of the better epigenetic clocks developed in recent years, judging from the data produced to support correlation between the measured epigenetic age acceleration and known risk factors for greater risk of age-related disease and mortality. Here, researchers show that a sustained improvement in diet and exercise slows the rate at which the GrimAge epigenetic clock advances. It is most interesting to see the research community closing in, step by step, on a way to actually measure the effects of interventions on the aging process. Of note, however, GrimAge seems to have much the same issue in this study as was noted for first generation epigenetic clocks, in that it is insensitive to the metabolic changes brought about by exercise. There is clearly work yet to accomplish in the production of good, co...
Source: Fight Aging! - Category: Research Authors: Tags: Daily News Source Type: blogs