"Our findings demonstrate that epiAgePublic can effectively estimate biological age with an accuracy comparable to more complex, established epigenetic clocks."
BUFFALO, NY — February 24, 2025 — A new research paper was published in Aging (Aging-US) on January 22, 2025, in Volume 17, Issue 1 , titled " EpiAge: a next-generation sequencing-based ELOVL2 epigenetic clock for biological age assessment in saliva and blood across health and disease ."
The research team, experts from both industry ( EpiMedTech Global , HKG Epitherapeutics Ltd ) and academic institutions ( McGill University , Oxford University , University of Catania , and the Research Institute-IRCCS ), led by first author David Cheishvili and corresponding author Moshe Szyf, have developed EpiAgePublic, a new method to estimate biological age using only three key DNA sites in the ELOVL2 gene, a well-known marker of aging. Unlike traditional methods that require analyzing thousands of DNA regions, this approach simplifies the process while maintaining accuracy. Their findings show that EpiAgePublic performs as well as, or even better than, more complex models in predicting biological age in diverse populations.
Biological age measures how fast or slow a person's body is aging. It can be different from chronological age and is influenced by genetics, lifestyle, and health conditions. Understanding biological aging can help researchers and clinicians identify age-related diseases like Alzheimer's disease and develop anti-aging treatments. However, many existing biological age tests rely on expensive and complicated processes. The EpiAgePublic model overcomes these challenges with a simple yet powerful approach.
The study analyzed data from over 4,600 individuals across different health conditions, including Alzheimer's disease and HIV. It confirmed that EpiAgePublic accurately tracks aging patterns and can identify factors such as chronic illness or stress that accelerate the aging process. Importantly, the researchers demonstrated that the test works well using saliva samples, offering a convenient and non-invasive alternative to blood-based tests. This makes it easier to conduct epigenetic age testing in both clinical and research settings.
"The simplicity and precision of epiAgePublic, designed for compatibility with next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies, mark a significant step forward in the field of epigenetic research."
The ability to measure epigenetic aging with a quick and cost-effective test has significant implications for healthcare, longevity research, and personalized medicine. This method could be used in hospitals, wellness clinics, and longevity studies to track aging and evaluate the effectiveness of anti-aging interventions. It may also help clinicians detect early signs of aging-related diseases, allowing for better preventive care.
Finally, the study's findings highlight the advantages of next-generation sequencing in epigenetic research, leading the way for more precise and accessible aging diagnostics. Future research will explore how this model can be expanded to other health conditions and used in routine medical practice.
Read the full paper: DOI: https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206188
