Slowing Down Time: Lifestyle Choices and Genetics in Epigenetic Aging
Delving into the science of aging, this research uncovers how certain lifestyle choices and genetic factors can slow down the epigenetic aging process. Epigenetic aging is measured using DNA methylation clocks, which are biomarkers indicating the biological age of a person, often differing from their chronological age. The study analyzed nearly 1,000 human samples, revealing that activities like yoga, getting ample sleep, higher education, consuming less meat, and drinking coffee are linked to slower epigenetic aging. Additionally, a genetic variant in the SOCS2 gene was found to be associated with this decelerated aging process.
The research emphasizes the complex interplay between our lifestyle choices, genetic makeup, and the aging process. The SOCS2 gene, part of the suppressor of cytokine signaling family, plays a significant role in human longevity. This study presents a novel perspective on how daily habits and specific genetic factors can influence our biological age, suggesting practical implications for health programs aimed at improving life quality and reducing age-related diseases.
In conclusion, the study offers a fascinating glimpse into the factors that can help us age more gracefully, combining genetic insights with practical lifestyle adjustments. It underscores the importance of a holistic approach to health and longevity.
Article Information
Analysis of epigenetic clocks links yoga, sleep, education, reduced meat intake, coffee, and a SOCS2 gene variant to slower epigenetic aging
Published in Geroscience. Rezvan Noroozi et al.
Abstract
DNA methylation (DNAm) clocks hold promise for measuring biological age, useful for guiding clinical interventions and forensic identification. This study compared the commonly used DNAm clocks, using DNA methylation and SNP data generated from nearly 1000 human blood or buccal swab samples. We evaluated different preprocessing methods for age estimation, investigated the association of epigenetic age acceleration (EAA) with various lifestyle and sociodemographic factors, and undertook a series of novel genome-wide association analyses for different EAA measures to find associated genetic variants. Our results highlighted the Skin&Blood clock with ssNoob normalization as the most accurate predictor of chronological age. We provided novel evidence for an association between the practice of yoga and a reduction in the pace of aging (DunedinPACE). Increased sleep and physical activity were associated with lower mortality risk score (MRS) in our dataset. University degree, vegetable consumption, and coffee intake were associated with reduced levels of epigenetic aging, whereas smoking, higher BMI, meat consumption, and manual occupation correlated well with faster epigenetic aging, with FitAge, GrimAge, and DunedinPACE clocks showing the most robust associations. In addition, we found a novel association signal for SOCS2 rs73218878 (p = 2.87 × 10-8) and accelerated GrimAge. Our study emphasizes the importance of an optimized DNAm analysis workflow for accurate estimation of epigenetic age, which may influence downstream analyses. The results support the influence of genetic background on EAA. The associated SOCS2 is a member of the suppressor of cytokine signaling family known for its role in human longevity. The reported association between various risk factors and EAA has practical implications for the development of health programs to improve quality of life and reduce premature mortality associated with age-related diseases.
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