Tag

Dna Methylation

All articles tagged with #dna methylation

health4 days ago•8 min saved

A Month of Vegan Eating Linked to Lower Inflammation and Hints of Slower Biological Aging

A small randomized trial of 48 healthy adults found that following a vegan diet for four weeks reduced inflammation and altered DNA methylation in pathways related to aging, with some aging measures (epigenetic clocks) suggesting slower biological aging. Results are preliminary and limited to blood markers; the short duration and small sample mean findings may not generalize, and longer, larger studies are needed. Diet quality also matters in vegan eating.

via Medical News Today|

#aging #dna-methylation #epigenetics

health13 days ago•8 min saved

Month-Long Vegan Diet Shifts DNA Methylation and Aging Clocks

In a small 4-week, isocaloric study of 48 healthy adults, those on a vegan diet showed a statistically significant ~1.7-year reduction on the PhenoAge biological aging clock, while a GrimAge clock showed a smaller, non-significant shift and a chronological-age clock trended higher. Immune-cell changes (lower neutrophils, higher CD4+ T cells) aligned with blood tests. Genome-wide DNA methylation shifts occurred but most did not survive correction for multiple comparisons, making results preliminary. Limitations include the small sample size and use of a less-clean vegan diet (allowing processed foods); researchers plan longer, more controlled studies to confirm findings.

via StudyFinds|

#aging #clinical-trial #dna-methylation

health-and-wellness24 days ago•18 min saved

Aging is a mosaic: some cells age faster, study reveals

Hebrew University researchers report that aging is not uniform across the body: individual cells age at different rates, identified by a DNA methylation aging signature. This mosaic of aging could enable new approaches to slow aging, improve cancer prevention, and aid early detection of other diseases (including via the Galleri test).

via The Jerusalem Post|

#aging #cancer #dna-methylation

science2 months ago•7 min saved

Sea Anemones Reveal DNA Methylation as an Ancient Genome Shield

Removing DNA methylation in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis had little impact on development but unleashed hidden transposable elements, suggesting DNA methylation evolved as a genomic defense against jumping genes. The study also found that some induced epigenetic changes can be inherited due to limited post-fertilization epigenetic resetting, offering insight into the ancestral role of DNA methylation and the evolution of gene regulation.

via SciTechDaily|

#dna-methylation #epigenetic-inheritance #evolution

science2 months ago•5 min saved

Epigenetic Inheritance Breaks Mendel's Rules in Mammals

Researchers in mice report that about 7% of inherited DNA methylation patterns escape Mendel’s rules, revealing non-Mendelian epigenetic inheritance and even a mammalian paramutation, suggesting that epigenetic marks can be transmitted across generations and influence traits without changing DNA sequence.

via SciTechDaily|

#dna-methylation #epigenetics #inheritance

health-and-medicine2 months ago•6 min saved

117-Year-Old's Gut Microbiome Hints at a Youthful Core

Researchers studying María Branyas Morera, who died at 117, found her gut microbiome was dominated by Bifidobacterium (about half the community), a profile more typical of infants, and DNA methylation clocks suggested her biological age was 17–23 years younger than her actual age; the study, led by Dr. Manel Esteller at the Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute, indicates gut health likely plays a role in aging but cautions that no single habit—like yogurt or diet—explains extreme longevity, which also depends on genetics and lifestyle.

via Sacramento Bee|

#aging #bifidobacterium #dna-methylation

health2 months ago•40 min saved

Epigenetic twists: hundreds of inherited DNA patterns defy Mendelian genetics

Mouse study reveals inherited DNA methylation patterns that break Mendel’s rules, identifying 522 non-sex-chromosome cases across three generations (~7%), plus emergent patterns and probable paramutation, suggesting inheritance can be shaped by epigenetic marks beyond DNA sequence and may influence trait transmission and disease risk.

via The Brighter Side of News|

#dna-methylation #epigenetics #gene-regulation

science3 months ago•5 min saved

DNA Methylation Switches Help Explain What Makes Humans Unique

A study comparing human, chimpanzee, and hybrid cells shows that cis-regulatory DNA methylation—driven by changes at CpG sites—primarily drives methylation differences between humans and chimps, with effects rippling to nearby sites. These epigenetic shifts correlate with human-specific traits in cognition, development timing, craniofacial features, and disease susceptibility, suggesting DNA methylation coordinates regulatory changes beyond gene expression to help define what makes us human.

via Indian Defence Review|

#cis-regulatory #cpg-sites #dna-methylation

science3 months ago•11 min saved

Epigenetic clocks are research tools, not consumer health tests

Epigenetic aging clocks sold as “biological age” tests are powerful research tools for studying aging at the population level but unreliable for individuals: dozens of clocks can disagree, results vary by sample type and short-term factors, and there is no universal gold standard. They are not medical diagnostics and should be used by researchers to identify population-level lifestyle factors that slow aging or to test therapies, not for personal health decisions or insurance decisions, though future work may eventually inform individualized care.

via The Conversation|

#aging #biological-age #dna-methylation

science3 months ago•5 min saved

Obesity Leaves a Lasting Immune Memory After Weight Loss

A decade-long study shows that obesity can leave a persistent “memory” in both fat and immune cells through DNA methylation, sustaining inflammation and higher risk for obesity-related diseases even after weight loss. Maintaining weight loss for about five to ten years may gradually erode this memory, underscoring why relapse is common and highlighting potential therapies such as SGLT2 inhibitors to reverse obesity’s immune effects.

via ScienceAlert|

#dna-methylation #helper-t-cells #immune-memory

health4 months ago•4 min saved

Weed Killer Picloram May Explain Surge in Young Colorectal Cancer

A Nature Medicine study identifies DNA methylation fingerprints in tumors from people under 50 that link exposure to the weed killer picloram to higher rates of colorectal cancer. Glyphosate shows a weaker signal, but the researchers caution the study is observational and cannot prove causation; factors such as smoking, diet, obesity, and gut bacteria are also being explored as potential contributors. More research is needed to confirm picloram’s role.

via Business Insider|

#colon-cancer #dna-methylation #health

biotechnology4 months ago•8 min saved

MethylScan: A Low-Cost Blood Test for Early, Multi-Disease Detection

UCLA researchers report MethylScan, a simple, affordable test that analyzes DNA methylation in circulating cell-free DNA to detect multiple cancers and liver diseases, and to indicate tissue of origin and organ health. In 1,061 samples, it achieved about 98% specificity, ~63% cancer detection across stages (~55% for early-stage) and ~80% detection of liver cancers in high‑risk groups, with a sequencing depth of ~300× costing under $20 per test as costs fall. By reducing background DNA, it functions as a system-wide health monitor, though larger prospective studies are needed to confirm real-world effectiveness.

via SciTechDaily|

#biotechnology #cancer-detection #cell-free-dna

science4 months ago•67 min saved

ThermoCas9: a methylation-sensitive CRISPR enzyme enabling epigenetic-aware editing

ThermoCas9 is a thermostable Cas9 whose activity is blocked by methylation of the PAM cytosine (5mC) in PAMs 5′-NNNNCGA-3′ or 5′-NNNNCCA-3′, restricting binding and cleavage to unmethylated sites. Cryo-EM structures of pre- and post-cleavage states reveal how PAM bases are recognized and why methylation prevents engagement. In human cells, unmethylated PAMs edit efficiently whereas methylated ones do not; a catalytically enhanced ThermoCas9 and optimized delivery methods boost editing at hypomethylated breast cancer loci ESR1 and GATA3, illustrating a new layer of precision for genome engineering and potential epigenetic screening applications.

via Nature|

#cryo-em #dna-methylation #methylation-sensitive-editing

health4 months ago•47 min saved

A penny-a-day pill could slow ageing, says professor who now takes it

COSMOS trial analyses suggest a daily multivitamin may slow biological ageing in older adults, with DNA methylation markers showing participants on vitamins were about three months biologically younger than placebo after two years; earlier results also noted cognitive benefits from addressing subtle micronutrient gaps. The author, Professor Rob Galloway, now takes a multivitamin and argues the cheap, low‑risk option is reasonable, though the findings apply to older adults (men 60+, women 65+) and may not extend to younger people. The piece underscores nutrition as a potentially major determinant of long‑term health, while acknowledging more research is needed; it also touches on meningitis B vaccination policy for teens in light of evolving risk.

via Daily Mail|

#ageing #cognitive-health #cosmos-trial

health5 months ago•5 min saved

Daily multivitamin slows ageing markers in older adults, study suggests

A two-year, randomized COSMOS trial found that taking a daily multivitamin slowed certain epigenetic clocks of ageing in people around 70, reducing biological age by about four months versus non-users; the effect was more pronounced in individuals with accelerated ageing and was observed in two of five DNA methylation clocks linked to mortality risk. While promising, the authors emphasize the effects are small and do not yet imply improved clinical outcomes.

via Nature|

#ageing #cosmos-study #dna-methylation