USC study reveals biological mechanisms of epigenetic clocks

A study led by the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology has provided new insights into how epigenetic clocks measure biological aging. Published in npj Aging, the research examines the underlying biology of these tools, which assess biological age by measuring DNA methylation—chemical changes that influence whether genes are turned “on” or “off” without altering the genetic code itself.

The research revealed significant variability in what five of the most widely used epigenetic clocks actually measure. To address this, the team developed new gene-expression based clocks. These new tools are designed to complement existing epigenetic clocks and have demonstrated even stronger predictive power regarding mortality and age-related diseases.