Research

Energy balance

Mitochondrial impairment accelerates epigenetic aging, while enhancing mitochondrial biogenesis slows it, establishing a direct link between mitochondrial function and the rate of epigenetic aging.

Mitochondrial health is a key driver of epigenetic aging. Impairing mitochondria accelerates the epigenetic clock, while boosting mitochondrial biogenesis slows it. This suggests that interventions supporting mitochondrial function (like exercise or specific nutrients) may slow epigenetic aging, independent of DNA repair or telomere length.

StrongSupportsHIGH confidence
The impairment of mitochondrial function in CCCP-treated cells was confirmed empirically... and these cells exhibited highly accelerated epigenetic aging.
Sylwia Kabacik et al. · Nature Aging · 2022

Why this rating

Direct causal link established via pharmacological inhibition (CCCP) and enhancement (Bezafibrate) in primary human cells with empirical validation of mitochondrial status.

Source

The relationship between epigenetic age and the hallmarks of aging in human cells

Sylwia Kabacik et al. · Nature Aging · 2022

DOI 10.1038/s43587-022-00220-0

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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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