Scientists find genetic signatures of accelerated ageing by analysing skin cells
- The study used machine learning algorithms to compare cells called fibroblasts
- The results could help in the treatment of people with age-related diseases
Ever wonder why some of us appear to be considerably younger or older than our actual chronological age? Scientists from Salk Institute for Biological Studies have discovered genetic signatures that may help explain this.
The age-associated genetic patterns were found by analysing skin cells from people of various ages, according to a study from the San Diego, California-based research facility.
Researchers then applied the results to detect genetic signs of accelerated ageing in people with progeria, a fatal disease that causes children to age far more quickly than normal.
With further research, the machine-learning method could be broadened to detect when people are ageing faster than their chronological age, says Saket Navlakha, a senior author of the study. This could be used to treat people at risk for age-related conditions, or advise them to change lifestyle habits before diseases occur, he says.
Such clinical applications could be ready in as little as five years, Navlakha says. To help other researchers, the scientists have made the machine learning algorithms and underlying data public.
The study was published last week in the journal Genome Biology.
