Scientists have developed a new method to measure the biological age of immune cells. This is done using a so-called “chromatin aging clock”, which looks at chromatin accessibility in various types of immune cell. Chromatin is the combination of DNA and proteins in the cell nucleus, and determines which genes are active. By measuring how this changes, indications of cell ageing can be obtained.
This technique uses advanced computer models and artificial intelligence to compare changes in cells with people's chronological age. If the biological age turns out to be higher than the actual age, this may indicate additional damage and a reduced immune system function. These kinds of clocks help researchers to understand how ageing progresses and offer opportunities to detect early damage.
Despite the promising results, there is still uncertainty about how accurate these clocks are for individuals. In addition, it is difficult to distinguish between changes caused by stress or illness and actual ageing. Nevertheless, this approach offers an important step forward in measuring ageing at the cellular level.
The research fits into a broader trend whereby scientists are learning increasingly well how to recognise and potentially counteract ageing processes. By mapping biological age more accurately, the development of treatments for age-related diseases can improve. This is important because it helps to promote a healthy and active old age.
Source: Reason
