News Summary

• Aging biomarkers can potentially allow researchers to rapidly monitor the impact of an aging intervention without the need for decade-spanning trials.
• Before the use of aging biomarkers, such as epigenetic clocks, as surrogate endpoints, their responsiveness to interventions that target aging must be tested.
• Epigenetic clocks have evolved from first-generation chronological age predictors to second-generation biomarkers of phenotypic aging, mortality risk and pace of aging.
• The geroscience hypothesis proposes that targeting the biological processes of aging may simultaneously prevent, delay or mitigate multiple chronic diseases.