{"id":37379,"date":"2022-12-30T07:36:18","date_gmt":"2022-12-30T12:36:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/nebula.org\/blog\/?p=37379"},"modified":"2023-01-10T07:51:02","modified_gmt":"2023-01-10T12:51:02","slug":"can-epigenetic-clocks-be-associated-with-atrial-fibrillation","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nebula.org\/blog\/can-epigenetic-clocks-be-associated-with-atrial-fibrillation\/","title":{"rendered":"Can epigenetic clocks be associated with atrial fibrillation?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

December 30, 2022<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As we age naturally, we tend to be at increased risk for various chronic illnesses. People most often think of aging as the increase in years, also known as chronological aging. However, there is a second type of aging sometimes referred to as biological or epigenetic aging<\/a>. In recent years, scientists are conducting more research linking disease and our epigenetic clocks<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this paper published in Circulation<\/em><\/a>, authors found an association between epigenetic aging and irregular heart, specifically atrial fibrillation (AF)<\/a>. This relationship was independent of chronological age. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As referred to above, we measure chronological age in the amount of years since birthdate. On the other hand, biological age is the age that cells, tissues, and organ systems appear to be. This appearance is based on biochemistry. Original biological clocks were based on the length of telomeres, structures on the end of chromosomes that assist in cell division. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Epigenetic clocks<\/a> are a novel way of looking at biological aging based on epigenetic modifications to the human genome. Specifically, these alterations are DNA methylation. That is, scientists evaluate the pattern of how methyl groups attach to cysteine groups on DNA over time, a known regulator of genetic expression. Heritable genetic factors, as well as lifestyle and environmental factors, impact these patterns. Unlike heredity, individuals can modify the latter two to either accelerate or decelerate biological age.\u00a0
Several commercial testing companies have started offering epigenetic tests for individuals, including Elysium Health<\/a>, ToolBox Genomics<\/a>, Muhdo<\/a>, and TruDiagnostic<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"DNA
DNA molecule. Photo by Warren Umoh<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Making connections with AF<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Scientists know that AF risk increases with age. However, the authors of the Circulation<\/em> study wanted to evaluate whether biological age had an independent relationship with the condition. If this is true, one could imagine that it could help as a diagnostic tool to identify younger people at higher risk earlier and allow doctors to prescribe preventative measures sooner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The researchers used three population-based cohort studies that assessed people with incident AF over time. Overall, the studies covered 5600 participants (mean age, 65.5 years; female, 60.1%; Black, 50.7%) with 905 instances of AF. The breakdown of AF incidence was:<\/p>\n\n\n\n