An Example of the Decomposition of Signatures of Aging into Multiple Distinct Trends
Gero, a biotech company in the longevity industry, focuses on using computational analysis to drive drug development efforts. Their research delves into the decomposition of aging signatures into various components in mice and humans, revealing overlapping trends in age-related omics data. While this approach offers insights into the progression of aging, connecting it to the underlying mechanisms remains challenging. Despite the wealth of data available, understanding its implications continues to be a slow and costly process.
Aging patterns in species like mice and humans exhibit an exponential increase in mortality rates. By studying DNA methylation changes in aging mice, researchers have identified a primary aging signature that aligns with the Gompertz law’s description of mortality acceleration. This signature reflects the dynamic instability driving the aging process and responds to interventions such as caloric restriction. Additionally, a linear DNAm signature indicates global demethylation levels, representing the expansion of individual cells’ state space volume in aging organisms.
