Is the "Aging Clock" Coming Next!?

The results of the reader poll for the "Next Big Technologies" featured annually by the MIT Review have been released.

In short,
the next-generation technology that readers are most anticipating is the "aging clock," which reads biological data separately from calendar time,
is the gist of it.

It is a fresh term, but I have mentioned before that research into "aging" is progressing.

There are researchers conducting ambitious studies to "treat" aging under the hypothesis that "aging is a disease."

I think the book below is what brought this topic to the general public. I especially recommend the mystery-style introduction, as it is thrilling.

So, let's return to the topic of the "aging clock" mentioned at the beginning.

The idea is that if you dig deep into the degradation of organs down to the gene expression level, you can see a correlation with actual age, so it can be used for prediction.

Gene expression is often collectively referred to as "epigenetic," but in essence, it is like a switch that activates gene functions.

It is well known that our bodies are composed of DNA and that it is passed on to descendants.
However, the historical trend is that we have come to understand that even if we know all about DNA, its effects can change epigenetically.

Of course, gene expression is not the entirety of aging.

Recently, as shown below, correlations with stress have also been identified through experiments.

This is intuitively convincing. Excessive stress seems likely to affect not only health but also lifespan. Research in this area will likely continue.

Since we are at it, I would like to list the causes of aging.

I will quote someone who was in the lab of the author of "LIFE SPAN," mentioned above, as they summarize it very clearly.

The diagram in the article above that visualizes the causes of aging is wonderful.

Besides the epigenetic (gene expression) topic discussed this time, there are quite a few others.
Of course, there is a possibility that each element influences the others, so if possible, I would like to know the most fundamental and impactful element.

Among these, the term you are likely unfamiliar with is "telomere," isn't it?

I will quote the explanation from Wiki.

Roughly speaking, it is a part at the end of a chromosome (the etymology means "end part") that is lost according to the number of cell divisions.
To use an analogy, it is like an "hourglass."

This hourglass also affects "aging."
In other words, if this can be controlled, there is a possibility of preventing aging.

The Wiki mentioned above also explains the mechanism of aging control, but since it is somewhat highly specialized, I will break it down.

It is a hypothesis that the "T-loop" part in the figure above gradually becomes unable to form, which suppresses cell division.

Research into elucidating this mechanism seems to be progressing even now.

All we ordinary people can do is digest what has been put into practical use, but I am still curious about the principles.

I intend to continue paying attention to aging research, including the aging clock, in the future.

However, worrying about it too much would literally be putting the cart before the horse, so first of all, I intend to live my daily life without accumulating stress ☺