Reacción a "Universal molecular ‘clocks’ of ageing and mortality identified in mammals"

This study provides an unprecedented integration of gene expression data in the context of ageing, encompassing mice, rats, macaques and humans across more than 11,000 samples and 25 tissues. It reports gene expression modules related to molecular ageing that are shared across these mammals and are linked to a multitude of biological processes associated with ageing, morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, the study provides experimental evidence beyond mere associations to validate its findings.

This study demonstrates, once again, that ageing is a highly complex process and occurs at different rates in each organ and tissue. Furthermore, each layer of molecular information provides us with a different perspective. We have molecular ageing clocks based on DNA methylation (epigenetics), on blood plasma proteins (proteomics) and now also on gene expression (transcriptomics). The challenge now is to understand what each molecular layer tells us and to use this information to design therapeutic strategies that improve the natural ageing process.