Human age reversal: Fact or fiction?

Area of Science:

• Biogerontology
• Computational biology
• Epigenetics

Background:

• Chronological age is a poor indicator of functional capacity and healthspan.
• Biological age, estimated by aging clocks, offers a more accurate measure of aging.
• Aging acceleration, an increase in biological age relative to chronological age, is linked to mortality risk.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the current understanding of biological age and aging clocks.
• To explore factors influencing biological age, including lifestyle and interventions.
• To assess the potential for modulating biological age.

Main Methods:

• Aging clocks utilize computational models (e.g., elastic net) and input data (e.g., DNA methylation sites).
• Studies analyze associations between age-related diseases, social/mental health factors, and predicted biological age.
• Human trials and observational studies investigate interventions and lifestyle factors affecting biological age.

Main Results:

• Aging clocks predict biological age, which can accelerate or decelerate relative to chronological age.
• Interventions like caloric restriction, plant-based diets, exercise, metformin, and vitamin D3 show potential to slow or reverse aging clocks.
• Lifestyle factors such as sleep, physical activity, and diet are associated with age deceleration.
• Specific molecules like doxazosin and alpha-ketoglutarate have been linked to reduced biological age.

Conclusions:

• Predicted biological age, as measured by aging clocks, appears to be malleable in humans.
• Lifestyle interventions and certain compounds show promise in influencing biological age.
• Further clinical trials are necessary to validate these findings and understand the clinical implications of modulating biological age.