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  • RESEARCH HIGHLIGHT

Faster ticking of ‘biological clock’ predicts shorter lifespan

Data from almost 700 people show that biomarkers that change at a slower pace are markers of longevity.
A close-up of an elderly woman blowing out candles on her 85th birthday cake

Epigenetic clocks can be used to estimate a person’s biological age. Credit: Getty

Tracking how quickly a person’s ‘biological clock’ ticks over time could be a powerful tool for predicting when they will die1.

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Nature 652, 11 (2026)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-026-00866-5

References

  1. Kuo, P.-L. et al. Nature Aging https://doi.org/10.1038/s43587-026-01066-6 (2026).

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