Mixed
Epigenetic clocks (DNAmAge) are currently the most robust biological age predictors, strongly correlating with chronological age and independently predicting all-cause mortality, cancer mortality, and various aging phenotypes such as frailty and cognitive decline.
Chronological age is not your destiny. Biomarkers like DNA methylation (epigenetic clocks) show that your body's biological state can differ significantly from your birth year. While you cannot change your birth date, these markers suggest that your health trajectory is influenced by factors like inflammation, immune function, and lifestyle. Monitoring these biological ages (where available) may offer more insight into your health risks than age alone, highlighting the importance of maintaining metabolic health and managing inflammation to potentially slow biological aging.
Thus far, the most promising, new biological age predictor is the epigenetic clock... The most striking feature of the Horvath and Hannum clocks is their ability to predict all-cause mortality independent of classic risk factors.
Why this rating
Based on large meta-analyses (n=13,089) and multiple independent cohorts, though the paper highlights a lack of longitudinal studies proving causality or modifiability.
Source
Biological Age Predictors
Juulia Jylhävä et al. · EBioMedicine · 2017
DOI 10.1016/j.ebiom.2017.03.046
More from this paper
- Telomere length is a valid biological age predictor that correlates with mortality, particularly for cancer and cardiovascular disease, and is independent of epigenetic clocks, though its predictive power varies by cancer type and sex.Moderate
- Composite biomarker predictors, which combine multiple clinical and biochemical markers (e.g., CRP, creatinine, blood pressure), are effective biological age predictors that correlate with mortality, physical function, and cognitive decline, often outperforming single biomarkers like telomere length.Moderate
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