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Epigenetic clocks
Also known as: DNA methylation clocks
Plain-English definition
Models that estimate biological age or risk from DNA methylation patterns.
Why it matters
They are powerful research tools but easy to overinterpret for individuals.
Status summary
Clinical utility varies by clock, use case and validation.
Evidence summary
Useful population-level associations; individual decision utility remains more limited.
Source links
- PubMed search: epigenetic clock mortality clinical utility - PubMed
Source-discovery link for primary literature and reviews.
Related claim checks
Biological age
Do epigenetic clocks tell you how long you will live?
Epigenetic clocks can be useful research tools and risk markers, but they do not tell an individual exactly how long they will live.
Biological age
Do biological age tests prove a protocol is working?
A biological-age result can be a tracking signal, but it does not by itself prove that a protocol is working or improving long-term health.
Related articles
Guide
Are epigenetic clocks useful for individuals?
Epigenetic clocks can be powerful research tools, but personal interpretation is still a high-noise exercise.