Evidence map›Paper›PMID 30975202›Full record

SynthesisClinical epigenetics2019

The epigenetic clock as a predictor of disease and mortality risk: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Peter D Fransquet, Jo Wrigglesworth, Robyn L Woods, Michael E Ernst, Joanne Ryan

Registry-linked trialOpen access · goldAbstract readMeta-AnalysisSystematic Review
In one paragraph

Synthesis in Clinical epigenetics, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05516355 (Psychological and Neurobiological Impact of a Retreat Based on Mindfulness and Compassion for Stress Reduction.), which is not on this map. Cited by 222 papers, 10 of them syntheses that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
222citing papers in PubMed, 10 pooled it
13.4field-weighted citation impact, top 1% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT05516355 nacompletednot on this mapstarted 2022, after this paper: background citation

Psychological and Neurobiological Impact of a Retreat Based on Mindfulness and Compassion for Stress Reduction.

TypeinterventionalSponsorUniversidad Complutense de MadridRan2022 to 2022Enrolled49ConditionsMindfulness, Compassion, Psychophysiologic Reaction, Psychological DistressArmsMindfulness-Based Stress Reduction, Compassion Cultivation Training
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

222 citing papers in PubMed, 10 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 375 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Pooled it
  3. Pooled it
  4. Pooled it
  5. Pooled it
  6. Using Epigenetic Clocks to Characterize Biological Aging in Studies of Children and Childhood Exposures: a Systematic Review.Prevention science : the official journal of the Society for Prevention Research · 2023
    Pooled it
  7. Pooled it
  8. Pooled it
  9. Pooled it
  10. Pooled it
  11. Trial
  12. Trial
  13. Trial
  14. Epigenetic clocks of biological aging and cognitively healthy longevity: the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study.The journals of gerontology. Series A, Biological sciences and medical sciences · 2026
    Article
  15. Article
  16. Review
  17. Article
  18. Article
  19. Review
  20. Article

162 more citing papers are in PubMed but not listed here.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors at 3 institutions in 2 countries.

Peter D FransquetDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, ASPREE, Level 5, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.
Jo WrigglesworthDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, ASPREE, Level 5, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.
Robyn L WoodsDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, ASPREE, Level 5, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia.
Michael E ErnstDepartment of Pharmacy Practice and Science, College of Pharmacy, The University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA.
Joanne RyanDepartment of Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, ASPREE, Level 5, The Alfred Centre, 99 Commercial Road, Melbourne, Victoria, 3004, Australia. joanne.ryan@monash.edu.
Monash University · AUUniversity of Iowa · USUniversity of Melbourne · AU

Funding

ASPirin in Reducing Events in the ElderlyU01AG029824 · NIA · HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI MCNEIL, JOHN JAMES, MURRAY, ANNE M · 2009 to 2018
$64.6M
Main Administrative CoreU19AG062682 · NIA · HENNEPIN HEALTHCARE RESEARCH INSTITUTE · PI CHAN, ANDREW T, MCNEIL, JOHN JAMES · 2019 to 2023
$42.9M
NIA NIH HHS U01 AG029824NIA NIH HHS U19 AG062682
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAgeing is one of the principal risk factors for many chronic diseases. However, there is considerable between-person variation in the rate of ageing and individual differences in their susceptibility to disease and death. Epigenetic mechanisms may play a role in human ageing, and DNA methylation age biomarkers may be good predictors of age-related diseases and mortality risk. The aims of this systematic review were to identify and synthesise the evidence for an association between peripherally measured DNA methylation age and longevity, age-related disease, and mortality risk.

methodsA systematic search was conducted in line with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Using relevant search terms, MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and PsychINFO databases were searched to identify articles meeting the inclusion criteria. Studies were assessed for bias using Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal checklists. Data was extracted from studies measuring age acceleration as a predictor of age-related diseases, mortality or longevity, and the findings for similar outcomes compared. Using Review Manager 5.3 software, two meta-analyses (one per epigenetic clock) were conducted on studies measuring all-cause mortality.

resultsTwenty-three relevant articles were identified, including a total of 41,607 participants. Four studies focused on ageing and longevity, 11 on age-related disease (cancer, cardiovascular disease, and dementia), and 11 on mortality. There was some, although inconsistent, evidence for an association between increased DNA methylation age and risk of disease. Meta-analyses indicated that each 5-year increase in DNA methylation age was associated an 8 to 15% increased risk of mortality.

conclusionDue to the small number of studies and heterogeneity in study design and outcomes, the association between DNA methylation age and age-related disease and longevity is inconclusive. Increased epigenetic age was associated with mortality risk, but positive publication bias needs to be considered. Further research is needed to determine the extent to which DNA methylation age can be used as a clinical biomarker.

Indexed as

DNA MethylationAgingEpigenesis, GeneticGenetic Association StudiesGenetic MarkersGenetic Predisposition to DiseaseHumansMortalityGenetic MarkersAgeingAge-related diseaseBiological ageDNA methylationEpigenetic clockLongevityMortalitySystematic review

Identifiers

PMID30975202
PMCPMC6458841
OpenAlexW2940776377

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.