DNA methylation-based measures of biological age: meta-analysis predicting time to death

Researchers combined results from 13 studies involving 13,089 adults and 1,882 deaths. They examined blood for DNA methylation, chemical tags that can affect how genes work, and used these patterns to estimate each person’s biological age. They compared this estimate with the person’s actual age and followed people to see who died. People whose biological age looked older than their actual age had a higher risk of dying during the study period, even after accounting for some usual health risks.

What this means for you: This suggests DNA-based age tests may reveal health differences, but they do not show exactly when someone will die or how to change the result. There is not enough evidence to buy a test, supplement, or treatment based on this finding.