Key points from article :
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh have unveiled a promising new tool called CheekAge, which uses methylation patterns from cheek cells to estimate biological ageing and mortality risk. This innovative approach takes advantage of epigenetic markers—chemical changes to DNA that influence gene activity without altering the genetic code. Methylation is one such marker, closely associated with ageing. Dr. Maxim Shokhirev, the study’s first author, highlighted that the research identified specific methylation sites that correlate with mortality, pointing to potential connections between certain genes and human lifespan.
The study evaluated CheekAge's effectiveness in predicting mortality by analyzing data from 1,513 individuals born between 1921 and 1936, who were part of the University of Edinburgh’s Lothian Birth Cohorts program. The researchers found that CheekAge outperformed traditional blood-based epigenetic clocks, establishing a strong link between higher CheekAge values and increased mortality risk. Specifically, each standard deviation increase in CheekAge was associated with a 21% increase in the hazard ratio for all-cause mortality, demonstrating the tool's potential as a reliable indicator of ageing and health.
Furthermore, the researchers identified genes near the methylation sites most strongly linked to mortality, including PDZRN4, thought to act as a tumour suppressor, and ALPK2, associated with cancer and cardiovascular health. This study not only sheds light on the biological mechanisms of ageing but also opens new avenues for exploring genetic factors influencing age-related diseases. The findings, published in the journal Frontiers in Aging, suggest that a simple cheek swab could serve as an effective, non-invasive method for monitoring ageing and mortality risk.
