Evolution Epigenetic Age and DNA Methylation Biomarkers for Monitoring Physiological Stress and Healthy Aging

Abstract

This paper  examines how DNA methylation biomarkers can be used in aging and physiological stress monitoring. Epigenetic age, which was created based on the patterns of DNA methylation, is a more precise age predictor of biological aging than chronological age. The study shows that there are substantial alterations in the levels of methylation in essential aging (e.g., CDKN2A, IL6) and stress (e.g., NR3C1, FKBP5) genes. It is seen that older people are more likely to have increased methylation in aging genes, whereas more stressed people (judged by measures of cortisol) are more likely to have increased stress-related genes. The statistical analysis established a high correlation between epigenetic age and chronological age (r = 0.85, p < 0.001), and stress levels and acceleration of epigenetic age (r = 0.72, p < 0.01), proving the fact that chronic stress leads to biological aging through the induction of epigenetic modifications. These results highlight the possibility of DNA methylation biomarkers in the early identification and customized health therapy against aging and stress-associated disorders. The findings and their applicability to clinical practice need longitudinal studies to be validated in the future.