GENOME BIOLOGY / 2013
Estimating age from DNA methylation.
Steve Horvath’s foundational paper describes an age predictor developed across many human tissues and cell types.
Read the paperTHE SCIENCE OF YOU
Your biology.
A closer look.
Understand the difference between your DNA, its chemical marks, and what an age estimate can tell you.
Start with the basics
ONE YOU. DIFFERENT LAYERS.
Get to know the difference.
Three ideas behind a more personal picture of your biology.
The genetic blueprint
Your DNA sequenceSimplified illustration
YOUR GENETIC STARTING POINT
The instructions you inherit.
DNA carries the instructions cells use to function. Differences in the sequence help explain some of the ways people vary.
A genetic predisposition is one part of your story. It does not determine every outcome.
Learn more at NHGRI ↗Another layer of you
Chemical marksSimplified illustration
PATTERNS THAT CAN CHANGE
Same sequence. Another layer.
Epigenetic testing measures chemical marks, such as DNA methylation, that help influence how cells use DNA without changing its sequence.
These patterns can change over time and can be influenced by factors including age, lifestyle, and environment.
Explore NHGRI’s epigenomics guide ↗Patterns into perspective
Biological age estimateConcept illustration
AN ESTIMATE, WITH CONTEXT
Patterns become a new perspective.
Researchers use DNA methylation patterns to build mathematical models of age. Different clocks are trained for different purposes.
The result is an estimate from a model, not a literal age for every part of your body.
Read the foundational research ↗Biological age asks “How old?”
An age estimate based on the patterns a particular model measures.
Pace of aging asks “How quickly?”
A different kind of model estimates the rate of aging-related change. Explore the research ↗
MORE CONTEXT. BETTER QUESTIONS.
A starting point.
Room for perspective.
Your results are most useful alongside your health history, habits, and a conversation with a qualified healthcare professional.
Explore the sample report- 01
Understand what was measured.
A DNA test reads inherited instructions that stay the same for life. An epigenetic test measures marks that can change over time, so the two answer different questions.
- 02
Look beyond a single number.
A younger estimate is not a clean bill of health. An older estimate is not a diagnosis or a prediction of lifespan.
- 03
Compare with care.
Methods and sample types matter. Ask about measurement variability before interpreting a change between tests. Read the reliability research ↗
READ A LITTLE DEEPER
The research behind the ideas.
Original research and a plain-language resource to keep exploring.
ELIFE / 2022
A different lens:
the pace of aging.
Belsky and colleagues describe DunedinPACE, a blood DNA methylation measure designed to estimate the pace of aging.
Read the paperNHGRI / SCIENCE EXPLAINER
Epigenetics,
in everyday language.
A guide to the epigenome, DNA methylation, and how chemical marks help regulate the use of genetic instructions.
Explore the guideThese sources explain the wider field. They do not establish which algorithms GeneStyle uses or validate a particular GeneStyle test. Test-specific methods and performance should be confirmed with GeneStyle.
A LITTLE MORE CLARITY
Good questions.
Clearer answers.
Does this tell me how long I’ll live?
No. An age estimate describes patterns captured by a model. It is not a personal lifespan forecast or a guarantee about future health.
Why might two tests give different results?
Clocks can use different DNA sites, sample types, training data, and methods. A number from one model is not necessarily interchangeable with a number from another. Read about one clock’s design ↗
Does a change prove that a habit worked?
One before-and-after result cannot establish that a specific habit caused a change. Discuss the size of the change, test variability, and the wider picture with a qualified healthcare professional.
Where can I ask about GeneStyle’s methods?
Ask GeneStyle which clock, sample type, and validation data apply to your test, and how repeat results should be interpreted. Contact the team ↗
Make your next step personal.
Explore the tests. Find your starting point.