Deciphering the Epigenetic Clock: Molecular Mechanism of Ageing and Rejuvenation

Abstract

The concept of epigenetic clock has gained significant interest in field of ageing research and cell rejuvenation potential. The objectives of this study are to study the significance of epigenetics in the ageing process, to discover the main biological processes that lead to ageing and the ticking of the epigenetic clock and to investigate the possibility of focusing on epigenetic alterations in order to delay ageing. In contrast of chronological age, epigenetic clock measure individual’s biological age by analysing the DNA methylation pattern and reveal the individual’s overall health. This review aims to assess and discover the answers to the research questions arise from the studies. This study attempt to discover how certain the epigenetic alteration such as DNA methylation influences the ageing process, the possibility to predict disease risk by using epigenetic biomarkers, the effectiveness of epigenetic clock in predicting biological age compared to the chronological age, the factors that affecting the rate of epigenetic ageing, and how the cell rejuvenation could be achieved through the epigenetic modification. The finding of the research should improve the knowledge in fundamental process of biological ageing, epigenetic modification and determinants of the ticking of the epigenetic clock.