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Review
. 2025 Apr;46(1):91-110.
doi: 10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060222-015657. Epub 2024 Dec 16.

Quantification of Epigenetic Aging in Public Health

Cynthia D J Kusters  1 , Steve Horvath  2   3
Affiliations
Review

Quantification of Epigenetic Aging in Public Health

Cynthia D J Kusters et al. Annu Rev Public Health. 2025 Apr.

Abstract

Estimators of biological age hold promise for use in preventive medicine, for early detection of chronic conditions, and for monitoring the effectiveness of interventions aimed at improving population health. Among the promising biomarkers in this field are DNA methylation-based biomarkers, commonly referred to as epigenetic clocks. This review provides a survey of these clocks, with an emphasis on second-generation clocks that predict human morbidity and mortality. It explores the validity of epigenetic clocks when considering factors such as race, sex differences, lifestyle, and environmental influences. Furthermore, the review addresses the current challenges and limitations in this research area.

Keywords: aging; epigenetic age; epigenetic clock; human studies.

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