Quantification of the pace of biological aging in humans through a blood test, the DunedinPoAm DNA methylation algorithm

Biological aging is the gradual, progressive decline in system integrity that occurs with advancing chronological age, causing morbidity and disability. Measurements of the pace of aging are needed as surrogate endpoints in trials of therapies designed to prevent disease by slowing biological aging. We report a blood-DNA-methylation measure that is sensitive to variation in pace of biological aging among individuals born the same year. We first modeled change-over-time in 18 biomarkers tracking organ-system integrity across 12 years of follow-up in n = 954 members of the Dunedin Study born in 1972-1973. Rates of change in each biomarker over ages 26-38 years were composited to form a measure of aging-related…

• CI
  Canadian Institute for Advanced Research
• JF
  Jacobs Foundation
• MR
  Medical Research Council

  Awards: MR/N01104X/1, G1002190, MR/P005918/1, MR/R005176/1, MR/M008924/1, MR/P005918/1
• EA
  Economic and Social Research Council

  Awards: ES/M008592/1, ES/S012567/1, ES/S008349/1
• NI
  National Institute on Aging

  Awards: U24AG047121, R01AG032282, R01AG061378, R21AG054846
• NI
  National Institute of Child Health and Human Development

  Award: R01HD077482