Length of paternal lifespan is manifested in the DNA methylome of their nonagenarian progeny

How to make DNA methylome wide association studies more powerful

Genome-wide association studies had a troublesome adolescence, while researchers increased statistical power, in part by increasing subject numbers. Interrogating the interaction of genetic and environmental influences raised new challenges of statistical power, which were not easily bested by the addition of subjects. Screening the DNA methylome offers an attractive alternative as methylation can be thought of as a proxy for the combined influences of genetics and environment. There are statistical challenges unique to DNA methylome data and also multiple features, which can be exploited to increase power. We anticipate the development of DNA methylome association study designs and new analytical methods, together with integration of data from other molecular species and other studies, which will boost statistical power and tackle causality. In this way, the molecular trajectories that underlie disease development will be uncovered.

Progress on the role of DNA methylation in aging and longevity

Aging is a major risk factor for individuals' health problems. Moreover, environmental signals have a widespread influence on the aging process. Epigenetic modification, e.g. DNA methylation, represents a link between genetic and environmental signals via the regulation of gene transcription. An abundance of literature indicates that aberrant epigenetic change occurs throughout the aging process at both the cellular and the organismal level. In particular, DNA methylation presents globally decreasing and site-specific increasing in aging. In this review, we focus on the crucial roles of DNA methylation in aging and age-related disease and highlight the great potential of DNA methylation as a therapeutic target in preventing age-related diseases and promoting healthy longevity.