Aging is a complex process, but have you ever wondered how it differs between men and women? In this week’s episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, Sara Hägg, an Associate Professor at Karolinska Institutet, and I discuss the fascinating differences in biological aging between sexes. We explore how genetics, hormones, and lifestyle choices contribute to aging disparities and what that means for longevity, disease risk, and overall health. You'll learn about: - How Sara Hägg became in...
Epigenetics offers fascinating insights into how our genes are influenced by lifestyle and environmental factors. In this week’s episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, Dr. Raffaele Teperino and I delve into groundbreaking research on epigenetic inheritance and how reproductive fitness impacts long-term health. From the transfer of epigenetic material during conception to the role of paternal health in childhood obesity and diabetes risk, we discuss how these factors shape generational...
DNA methylation, a cornerstone of epigenetic research, is vital for understanding gene regulation and its implications in health and disease. In this week’s episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, I speak with David Goldberg and Nicole Renke about the latest advancements in DNA methylation tools, including Illumina's groundbreaking Methylation Screening Array (MSA). We explore the history and evolution of methylation microarrays, why they remain the gold standard for Epigenome-Wide As...
How can epigenetics revolutionize heart disease prevention? In this week’s episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, Dr. Meesha Dogan and I discuss the groundbreaking role of AI-driven epigenetics in cardiovascular medicine. Dr. Dogan shares her journey into the field, the life-changing potential of precision diagnostics, and the critical connection between lifestyle and heart health. You'll learn about: • How epigenetics determines heart disease risk beyond genetics. • ...
Reproductive longevity and fertility are topics that impact women disproportionately across the globe. In this week’s episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, Dr. Katherine Zagone and I discuss how epigenetics can unlock key insights into fertility, biological age, and reproductive health. Dr. Zagone shares her journey into the fertility world, her pioneering work at Clockwize, and how biological age plays a crucial role in fertility outcomes. You'll learn about: How Dr. Zagone founded...
In this week’s episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, Dr. Christopher Minteer, Nicholas Minteer, and I dive into the fascinating intersection of canine health, longevity, and epigenetics. We explore how their company, Woofgenix, is revolutionizing the field through cutting-edge research and innovative products that aim to extend the lifespan and healthspan of our beloved pets. From understanding the unique epigenetic processes in dogs to uncovering the secrets behind varying breed lif...
In this episode of Everything Epigenetics, host Hannah Went sits down with Dave Pascoe, a retired network security architect who’s redefining the way we think about aging. Despite being 62, Dave has been able to have a lower "biological age" and slow pace of aging, a testament to his dedication to health optimization, epigenetics, and biological tuning. Known for ranking among the top contenders in the Rejuvenation Olympics leaderboard, Dave’s journey offers invaluable insights into affordabl...
In this week's episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, Dr. Chiara Herzog and I talk about how epigenetics is making waves in the medical world and how it could change treatment. Translational scientist and research fellow Dr. Herzog provides insights from her role in the Biomarkers of Aging Consortium and her work on the TirolGESUND project, one of the largest multi-omic human lifestyle intervention trials to date. We investigate the potential applications of epigenetics in cancer dete...
In this week’s episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, Dr. Gabriel Fries and I discuss the fascinating intersections of epigenetics, aging, and psychiatric disorders. Dr. Fries, an Assistant Professor in Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at UTHealth, shares his groundbreaking research on the molecular underpinnings of mood disorders such as bipolar disorder and suicide risk. We dive into how psychiatric disorders are linked to accelerated aging, how drugs like lithium show promise in ...
Recent research from the University of Chicago shows that only 14% of cancers in the U.S. are diagnosed after the patient had a recommended screening test. 57% of diagnosed cancers do not have screening tests and account for 70% of all cancer-related deaths. 86% of cancer cases still go undiagnosed after recommended screenings. 16M+ life years saved in the U.S. from early-detection screenings. I don't know about you, but everytime I read those stats, my jaw hits the floor. When it comes to c...
In this week’s episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, I’m joined by Dr. Charles Breeze, an expert in computational epigenetics. We talk about his inspiring journey into the field of epigenetics, his trailblazing research on kidney function across diverse ethnic groups, and the innovative tools he's developed to push the boundaries of epigenetic research. Dr. Breeze shares how his fascination with the complex interaction between environmental and genetic factors shaped his path into ep...
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating neurodegenerative condition that slowly erodes memory, cognitive function, and the ability to perform even the simplest tasks. It’s heartbreaking not only for those diagnosed but also for their loved ones as they watch a gradual loss of the person they knew. This is exactly how I felt in 2015 when I watched my grandmother be taken by this awful disease. The disease progresses as abnormal protein deposits (amyloid plaques and tau tangles) damage brain cells...
In this week’s episode of the Everything Epigenetics podcast, Hannah Went sits down with Alex Trapp, a computational biologist deeply involved in aging research. The two explore the cutting-edge development of single-cell epigenetic clocks and their potential applications in the field of longevity science. Alex shares his journey from experimental biology to computational approaches and discusses the significant implications of understanding aging at the single-cell level. He also provides in...
The development and application of epigenetic predictors of health is revolutionizing the way we understand and approach personalized medicine. These predictors, derived from analyzing DNA methylation patterns, provide a powerful tool for assessing biological age, disease risk, and overall health. By leveraging advanced machine learning and AI, researchers can identify specific epigenetic markers that correlate with various health outcomes, allowing for early detection and tailored intervent...
In Europe, people aged 65 typically spend about half of their remaining years managing disabilities. Much of the existing research on aging has predominantly focused on identifying "cures" rather than exploring strategies for healthy aging. Dr. Esther Walton’s is breaking new frontiers with the unconventional approach that aging begins at birth and should be approached through a comprehensive life course strategy that integrates studies of early development, adult psychiatry, and mental aging...
The immune system adapts to various threats through innate and adaptive responses, utilizing epigenetic mechanisms to regulate gene activity without changing DNA sequences. These mechanisms help maintain long-term immune phenotypes, allowing the immune system to respond to changing environments. In innate immunity, epigenetic changes enable immediate pathogen responses, while in adaptive immunity, they create memory cells that remember past infections for quicker, stronger reactions. This ada...
In this week’s episode of Everything Epigenetics, I am joined by Dr. Janitza Montalvo-Ortiz, Assistant Professor of Psychiatry at Yale University, who shares her journey into the world of epigenetics and psychiatry. Dr. Montalvo-Ortiz explains the pivotal role of epigenetics in understanding the genetic and environmental factors contributing to psychiatric disorders and emphasizes the importance of trauma exposure in shaping mental health outcomes. Our discussion covers her research into t...
We are entering a new phase of understanding how our social environments affect our biology, particularly how they influence the genes involved in brain development and function. This knowledge helps us see how experiences like stress, trauma, and isolation can cause changes at the molecular level that may increase the risk of mental disorders. On the other hand, we're also exploring how positive experiences induced by psychedelics, which create feelings of unity and insight, might lead to be...
Personalized nutrition tailors dietary recommendations to an individual's unique biological needs, factoring in genetics, lifestyle, and health conditions to optimize health, prevent disease, and maintain overall well-being. Central to this approach is the role of epigenetics, which studies changes in gene expression that do not involve alterations to the DNA sequence but can be influenced by external factors such as diet. For instance, certain nutrients can affect DNA methylation patterns o...
Determining a newborn's due date traditionally relies on maternal reports of the last menstrual period and ultrasound scans. These conventional approaches can lead to uncertainties, especially when it comes to identifying deviations from normal fetal development that could impact research into the effects of preterm or post-term births on newborns. However, researchers, including Kristine Løkås Haftorn, have now developed a more precise method to ascertain newborns' gestational age through...