title: Epigenetic genome-wide association methylation in aging and longevity.
abstract: The aging phenotype is the result of a complex interaction between genetic, epigenetic and environmental factors. Evidence suggests that epigenetic changes (i.e., a set of reversible, heritable changes in gene function or other cell phenotype that occurs without a change in DNA sequence) may affect the aging process and may be one of the central mechanisms by which aging predisposes to many age-related diseases. The total number of altered methylation sites increases with increasing age, such that they could serve as marker for chronological age. This article systematically highlights the advances made in the field of epigenomics and their contribution to the understanding of the complex physiology of aging, lifespan and age-associated diseases.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave, Golding 502b, Bronx, NY 10461, USA.
authors.forename: Danny
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ben-Avraham
authors.forename: Radhika H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Muzumdar
authors.forename: Gil
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Atzmon
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000375:Aging / Q000235:genetics*; D000818:Animals; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D018899:CpG Islands; D019175:DNA Methylation; D044127:Epigenesis, Genetic; D057890:Epigenomics; D005786:Gene Expression Regulation; D056426:Genetic Loci; D055106:Genome-Wide Association Study; D006801:Humans; D008136:Longevity / Q000235:genetics*; D035683:MicroRNAs / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D010641:Phenotype
chemical_list: D035683:MicroRNAs