Morgan Levine, PhD, on PhenoAge and the Epigenetics of Age Acceleration — can we change the pace?

Diet & Exercise

Diet and exercise play a crucial role in managing epigenetic aging. Dr. Morgan Levine emphasizes the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle and a balanced diet, highlighting the benefits of omega-3 fatty acids and intermittent fasting. She notes, "Exercise is probably the most powerful tool we have to actually intervene in our aging process" 1. Additionally, Rhonda Patrick discusses a study showing that a high omega-3 index can significantly increase life expectancy, even among smokers 1.

   

Reprogramming

Reprogramming techniques offer promising avenues for reversing cellular aging. Dr. Levine explains how partial reprogramming can rejuvenate cells without losing their identity, a concept pioneered by Shinya Yamanaka's discovery of Yamanaka factors 2. She finds it fascinating that cells can revert to a younger state, potentially leading to therapeutic applications in the future. "The idea that it can go back, I think is amazing," she says 3.

   

Inflammation

Managing inflammation is key to slowing epigenetic aging. Dr. Levine discusses how inflammation accelerates aging, as evidenced by cancer patients whose epigenetic age increased significantly after chemotherapy but normalized later 4. She notes that epigenetic clocks in blood often reflect inflammation levels, which are predictive of various diseases. "Epigenetics aging measured in blood is very much tied to inflammation," she explains 4.

   

Plasma Exchange

Plasma exchange shows potential in rejuvenating tissues and reversing aging. Dr. Levine describes how young plasma can rejuvenate older mice, a concept stemming from parabiosis studies 5. Recent research indicates that diluting old plasma with saline and albumin can also have rejuvenating effects. "It really indicates that there is something accumulating in the bloodstream with age that may be accelerating the aging process," she notes 5.