What is the Epigenetic Clock?
The epigenetic clock is a scientifically validated and reliable measurement of specific genes and the presence or absence of methylations on a known sequence of genes that encode for the expression of the longevity phenotype.
What are epigenetics?
Technically, the term epigenetics is used to describe any alteration of the DNA, which does not affect the DNA sequence itself, but which is maintained through cell division.
Do you tell yourself that you are younger than your years? Now there is a way to accurately discover your true age, your epigenetic age, by testing your biologic clock. Are you ready to take action and turn back the clock? By testing your epigenetic age yearly, the Oregon Longevity Project is able to scientifically measure the age-reversal benefits of our Defeat Aging program.
What are epigenetics?
The epigenetic clock is a scientifically validated and reliable measurement of specific genes and the presence or absence of methylations on a known sequence of genes that encode for the expression of the longevity phenotype. The term epigenetics is used to describe epi-alterations of the DNA. While these alterations do not affect the hard copy of our DNA sequence itself, they do continue to be maintained and carried through cell division.
Epigenetics are like a highlighter of the human genome
One way to think about epigenetics is as a highlighter of the human genome, helping to decide when and where to use some of our genes. Through a metabolic process called epigenetic methylation, all organisms are able to “highlight” which genes are expressed.
Why do we need epigenetic methylations?
All cells in the body have the same genetic material, yet they obviously behave very differently based on their specific cell type. For instance, a nerve cell acts very differently than a muscle cell. Epigenetic methylations expose the genetic material that is being used in the particular cell type. and cloister away the portion of the gene that is not needed.
Every cell in your body carries a copy of the complete human genome. But if the complete genome were expressed in a cell, it would be a blob of unrecognizable cell components. Instead, every eye cell exposes only the eye-forming portion of the gene, and hides away the liver, or bone, or heart portions of the gene. This allows the eye cell to express only the eye gene. This is done through the mechanism called epigenetic DNA methylation.
In epigenetics, we can measure DNA methylation and histone modifications to accurately predict an organism’s biological age. DNA methylation (and DNA hydroxymethylation, a more recently discovered modification) are changes that involve the addition of a methyl group to cytosines in the DNA. The impact of DNA methylation differs based on context, but in some instances, it can affect the expression of a parental allele (for instance in genomic imprinting). DNA methylation is the epigenetic modification that has been most studied, and there are currently laboratory tests available to study this modification (DNA methylation analysis of critical regions of genomic imprinting).
Is it possible to turn back the epigenetic clock?
Epigenetic changes can be positively or negatively altered through a multitude of known lifestyle interventions-nutrition, exercise, sleep- and through the use of strategically selected anti-aging molecules. Our Defeat Aging protocols are designed to turn back the epigenetic clock by using a scientifically validated and synergistic combination of both lifestyle and molecular interventions.