Generations of epigenetic clocks and their links to socioeconomic status in the Health and Retirement Study

Abstract

Aim: This is a brief description of links between nine epigenetic clocks related to human aging and socioeconomic and behavioral characteristics as well as health outcomes. Materials & methods: We estimate frequently used and novel clocks from one data source, the Health and Retirement Study. Results: While all of these clocks are thought to reflect “aging,” they use different CpG sites and do not strongly relate to each other. First and fourth generation clocks are not as linked to socioeconomic status or health outcomes as second and third generation clocks. Conclusion: Epigenetic clocks reflect exciting new tools and their continued evolution is likely to improve our understanding of how exposures get under the skin to accelerate aging.