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Vascular Aging Across the Cardiovascular-Alzheimer's Continuum: Hemodynamics and Artificial Intelligence

Ziqiang Zhou1, Ruihua Zhang2, Jinwen Wang3

  • 1Cardiovascular Center, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.

Aging and Disease
|June 15, 2026
PubMed

Insights

Epigenetic clocks, based on DNA methylation, are powerful tools for measuring biological age and aging rates. These advancements offer new insights into health trajectories and disease risks, despite ongoing challenges in aging research.

Area of Science:

  • Gerontology
  • Biomarker Development
  • Epigenetics

Background:

  • Accurate prediction of health trajectories and aging processes is a significant scientific challenge.
  • Traditional biomarkers offer limited insights into the complex, multidimensional nature of aging.
  • Assessing interventions targeting aging remains elusive due to the difficulty in quantifying aging processes.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To highlight the advancements in epigenetic clocks as novel biomarkers of aging.
  • To discuss the potential of epigenetic clocks in predicting health outcomes and disease risks.
  • To underscore the need for further research to fully utilize epigenetic clocks in aging science.

Main Methods:

  • Development of epigenetic clocks based on DNA methylation patterns.
  • Utilizing epigenetic clocks to estimate biological age and aging rates.
  • Analyzing the predictive power of epigenetic clocks for mortality and age-related diseases.

Main Results:

  • Epigenetic clocks have emerged as precise biomarkers for estimating biological age across diverse tissues.
  • These clocks can distinguish biological age from chronological age.
  • Epigenetic clocks provide valuable predictive insights into mortality and age-related disease risks.

Conclusions:

  • Epigenetic clocks represent a significant breakthrough in aging research, offering a more comprehensive view of biological aging.
  • Despite their precision, challenges remain in fully understanding and applying epigenetic clock technology.
  • Continued investigation is crucial to unlock the full potential of epigenetic clocks in gerontology and personalized medicine.

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