Validating Biological Age Biomarkers: From Epigenetic Clocks to Multi-Omics Predictors
This Nature Medicine review provides a framework for validating omic-based biomarkers of biological aging, including epigenetic clocks, telomere length assays, and transcriptomic, proteomic, and metabolomic predictors. Epigenetic clocks based on DNA methylation patterns emerge as the most promising biological age predictor, though longitudinal validation is still needed. For clinical laboratories, standardised aging biomarker panels could eventually serve as surrogate endpoints in gerotherapeutic trials and as tools for preventive health screening.
The original study
Validation of biomarkers of aging.
- Authors
- Moqri M, Herzog C, Poganik JR, Ying K, Justice JN, Belsky DW, et al.
- Journal
- Nature medicine
- Type
- Journal Article, Review, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
- PMID
- 38355974
Original abstract
The search for biomarkers that quantify biological aging (particularly 'omic'-based biomarkers) has intensified in recent years. Such biomarkers could predict aging-related outcomes and could serve as surrogate endpoints for the evaluation of interventions promoting healthy aging and longevity. However, no consensus exists on how biomarkers of aging should be validated before their translation to the clinic. Here, we review current efforts to evaluate the predictive validity of omic biomarkers of aging in population studies, discuss challenges in comparability and generalizability and provide recommendations to facilitate future validation of biomarkers of aging. Finally, we discuss how systematic validation can accelerate clinical translation of biomarkers of aging and their use in gerotherapeutic clinical trials.