Yuduo Hao , Kaiyuan Han , Ting Wang , Junwen Yu , Hui Ding , Fuying Dao
{"title":"Exploring the potential of epigenetic clocks in aging research","authors":"Yuduo Hao , Kaiyuan Han , Ting Wang , Junwen Yu , Hui Ding , Fuying Dao","doi":"10.1016/j.ymeth.2024.09.001","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>The process of aging is a notable risk factor for numerous age-related illnesses. Hence, a reliable technique for evaluating biological age or the pace of aging is crucial for understanding the aging process and its influence on the progression of disease. Epigenetic alterations are recognized as a prominent biomarker of aging, and epigenetic clocks formulated on this basis have been shown to provide precise estimations of chronological age. Extensive research has validated the effectiveness of epigenetic clocks in determining aging rates, identifying risk factors for aging, evaluating the impact of anti-aging interventions, and predicting the emergence of age-related diseases. This review provides a detailed overview of the theoretical principles underlying the development of epigenetic clocks and their utility in aging research. Furthermore, it explores the existing obstacles and possibilities linked to epigenetic clocks and proposes potential avenues for future studies in this field.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":390,"journal":{"name":"Methods","volume":"231 ","pages":"Pages 37-44"},"PeriodicalIF":4.2000,"publicationDate":"2024-09-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Methods","FirstCategoryId":"99","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1046202324001919","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"BIOCHEMICAL RESEARCH METHODS","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
The process of aging is a notable risk factor for numerous age-related illnesses. Hence, a reliable technique for evaluating biological age or the pace of aging is crucial for understanding the aging process and its influence on the progression of disease. Epigenetic alterations are recognized as a prominent biomarker of aging, and epigenetic clocks formulated on this basis have been shown to provide precise estimations of chronological age. Extensive research has validated the effectiveness of epigenetic clocks in determining aging rates, identifying risk factors for aging, evaluating the impact of anti-aging interventions, and predicting the emergence of age-related diseases. This review provides a detailed overview of the theoretical principles underlying the development of epigenetic clocks and their utility in aging research. Furthermore, it explores the existing obstacles and possibilities linked to epigenetic clocks and proposes potential avenues for future studies in this field.
期刊介绍:
Methods focuses on rapidly developing techniques in the experimental biological and medical sciences.
Each topical issue, organized by a guest editor who is an expert in the area covered, consists solely of invited quality articles by specialist authors, many of them reviews. Issues are devoted to specific technical approaches with emphasis on clear detailed descriptions of protocols that allow them to be reproduced easily. The background information provided enables researchers to understand the principles underlying the methods; other helpful sections include comparisons of alternative methods giving the advantages and disadvantages of particular methods, guidance on avoiding potential pitfalls, and suggestions for troubleshooting.