Researchers Find 11,000-Sample Aging Signature Shared Across Mammals, Opening Path to Longevity Drugs
Updated
Updated · Scientific American · May 27
Researchers Find 11,000-Sample Aging Signature Shared Across Mammals, Opening Path to Longevity Drugs
4 articles · Updated · Scientific American · May 27
More than 11,000 transcriptomes from mice, rats, monkeys and humans showed that aging-linked gene activity is conserved across species, tissues and even distinct cell types, according to a Nature study.
The team says this “transcriptomic age” captures biological aging rather than just elapsed time, with the same genes tied to aging in organs such as the liver and heart across mammals.
Higher transcriptomic age also tracked with chronic disease in animals and humans, and U.K. Biobank data linked it to disease burden and mortality risk.
Researchers released an online Transcriptomic Age Calculator, or TACO, so scientists can test whether drugs or other interventions lower biological age in tissue samples regardless of species.
The findings suggest aging is a systemic process and could help narrow candidates for antiaging treatments, an area where no intervention has yet been shown to extend human lifespan.
A new 'biological clock' can now predict our true age. How will this technology transform drug development and personal health?
If we can measure and reverse biological aging, what are the ethical rules for a world where lifespans are unequal?
Universal Transcriptomic Aging Clocks: Transforming Longevity Research, Drug Discovery, and Personalized Healthspan
Overview
Recent advancements in aging research have led to the identification of universal transcriptomic aging signatures across mammalian species, marking a breakthrough that is fundamentally changing our understanding of aging. At the core of this progress are molecular aging clocks, which analyze biomarkers like DNA methylation and transcriptomic data to estimate biological age. These clocks are rigorously validated for accuracy and broad applicability. The development of transcriptomic clocks represents a significant leap forward, providing deep insights into the aging process and enabling accurate predictions of how genetic, environmental, or pharmacological treatments can affect lifespan, even in young adult animals.