Aging, exceptional longevity and comparisons of the Hannum and Horvath epigenetic clocks

Abstract

Aim: To examine the relationships between two epigenetic clocks, aging and exceptional longevity. Materials & methods: Participants were from three adult cohorts with blood DNA methylation data (Illumina 450 K, n = 275, 34–103 years). Epigenetic age (DNAmage) and age acceleration measures were calculated using the Hannum and Horvath epigenetic clocks. Results: Across all cohorts, DNAmage was correlated with chronological age. In the long-lived cohort (Sydney Centenarian Study; 95+, n = 23), DNAmage was lower than chronological age for both clocks. Mean Sydney Centenarian Study Hannum age acceleration was negative, while the converse was observed for the Horvath model. Conclusion: Long-lived individuals have a young epigenetic age compared with their chronological age.

Keywords::

• acceleration
• age
• aging
• centenarians
• DNAmage
• epigenetic clock
• longevity

Acknowledgements

The authors express their thanks and acknowledge the important contributions of the SCS, OATS and BSGS participants, supporters and their respective research teams. The authors apologize to all their colleagues whose important work could not be directly cited.

Supplementary data

To view the supplementary data that accompany this paper please visit the journal website at: www.tandfonline.com/doi/Full/10.2217/nnm-2016-0161

Financial & competing interests disclosure

The Sydney Centenarian Study is supported by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants (Project Grant 630593, Program Grant 109308). The Older Australian Twins Study was facilitated through access to the Australian Twin Registry, which is funded by the NHMRC Enabling Grant 310667. The Older Australian Twins Study is supported by a NHMRC/Australian Research Council Strategic Award (grant 401162) and a NHMRC Project Grant (1045325). JB Kwok was supported by the NHMRC grant APP1021269. DNA for the majority of samples was extracted by Genetic Repositories Australia, which was funded by the NHMRC Enabling Grant 401184. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.

Ethical conduct of research

Written informed consent was provided either by the participant or next of kin and ethics approval was obtained from the Southern Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Health Service and the University of New South Wales. Ethics approval was obtained from the appropriate committees of the Australian Twin Registry, University of New South Wales, University of Melbourne, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, and the South Eastern Sydney and Illawarra Area Health Service.

Additional information

Funding

The Sydney Centenarian Study is supported by National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) grants (Project Grant 630593, Program Grant 109308). The Older Australian Twins Study was facilitated through access to the Australian Twin Registry, which is funded by the NHMRC Enabling Grant 310667. The Older Australian Twins Study is supported by a NHMRC/Australian Research Council Strategic Award (grant 401162) and a NHMRC Project Grant (1045325). JB Kwok was supported by the NHMRC grant APP1021269. DNA for the majority of samples was extracted by Genetic Repositories Australia, which was funded by the NHMRC Enabling Grant 401184. The authors have no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. No writing assistance was utilized in the production of this manuscript.