Implementing Precision Medicine in Human Frailty through Epigenetic Biomarkers

José Luis García-Giménez, Salvador Mena-Molla, Francisco José Tarazona-Santabalbina, Jose Viña, Mari Carmen Gomez-Cabrera and Federico V. Pallardó
Additional contact information
José Luis García-Giménez: U733, Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER-ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain
Salvador Mena-Molla: Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Valencia, 46003 Valencia, Spain
Francisco José Tarazona-Santabalbina: Servicio de Geriatría, Hospital Universitario de la Ribera, CIBERFES, Alzira, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Jose Viña: Freshage Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health Research-INCLIVA, University of Valencia and CIBERFES, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Mari Carmen Gomez-Cabrera: Freshage Research Group, Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Health Research-INCLIVA, University of Valencia and CIBERFES, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Federico V. Pallardó: U733, Centre for Biomedical Network Research on Rare Diseases (CIBERER-ISCIII), 28029 Madrid, Spain

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 4, 1-17

Abstract: The main epigenetic features in aging are: reduced bulk levels of core histones, altered pattern of histone post-translational modifications, changes in the pattern of DNA methylation, replacement of canonical histones with histone variants, and altered expression of non-coding RNA. The identification of epigenetic mechanisms may contribute to the early detection of age-associated subclinical changes or deficits at the molecular and/or cellular level, to predict the development of frailty, or even more interestingly, to improve health trajectories in older adults. Frailty reflects a state of increased vulnerability to stressors as a result of decreased physiologic reserves, and even dysregulation of multiple physiologic systems leading to adverse health outcomes for individuals of the same chronological age. A key approach to overcome the challenges of frailty is the development of biomarkers to improve early diagnostic accuracy and to predict trajectories in older individuals. The identification of epigenetic biomarkers of frailty could provide important support for the clinical diagnosis of frailty, or more specifically, to the evaluation of its associated risks. Interventional studies aimed at delaying the onset of frailty and the functional alterations associated with it, would also undoubtedly benefit from the identification of frailty biomarkers. Specific to the article yet reasonably common within the subject discipline.

Keywords: geriatric syndromes; healthy aging; exercise; histones; DNA methylation; non-coding RNA (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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