Blood and skeletal muscle ageing determined by epigenetic clocks and their associations with physical activity and functioning
Open accessPublished version of a preprint
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the correspondence of different biological ageing estimates (i.e. epigenetic age) in blood and muscle tissue and their associations with physical activity (PA), physical function and body composition. Two independent cohorts ( N = 139 and N = 47) were included, whose age span covered adulthood (23–69 years). Whole blood and m. vastus lateralis samples were collected, and DNA methylation was analysed. Four different DNA methylation age (DNAmAge) estimates were calculated using genome-wide methylation data and publicly available online tools. A novel muscle-specific methylation age was estimated using the R-package ‘MEAT’. PA was measured with questionnaires and accelerometers. Several tests were conducted to estimate cardiorespiratory fitness and muscle strength. Body composition was estimated by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. DNAmAge estimates from blood and muscle were highly correlated with chronological age, but different age acceleration estimates were weakly associated with each other. The monozygotic twin within-pair similarity of ageing pace was higher in blood ( r = 0.617–0.824) than in muscle ( r = 0.523–0.585). Associations of age acceleration estimates with PA, physical function and body composition were weak in both tissues and mostly explained by smoking and sex. The muscle-specific epigenetic clock MEAT was developed to predict chronological age, which may explain why it did not associate with functional phenotypes. The Horvath’s clock and GrimAge were weakly associated with PA and related phenotypes, suggesting that higher PA would be linked to accelerated biological ageing in muscle. This may, however, be more reflective of the low capacity of epigenetic clock algorithms to measure functional muscle ageing than of actual age acceleration. Based on our results, the investigated epigenetic clocks have rather low value in estimating muscle ageing with respect to the physiological adaptations that typically occur due to ageing or PA. Thus, further development of methods is needed to gain insight into muscle tissue-specific ageing and the underlying biological pathways.
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Integrity signals
Registry
Cites
Statistics
Claims the paper makes
The claims and statistics of this paper haven’t been checked yet.
Run the check — free, no account needed. It reads the open-access text and checks the sources it cites.
Claims other papers make about this one
Each is checked against this paper’s own text: does it say what the citing paper says it does?
Epigenetic clocks trained in specific tissues have stronger associations with the functional states of those tissues.
“This idea is further supported by studies that show that epigenetic clocks trained in specific tissues have stronger associations with the functional states of those tissues77–80.”
From Measuring biological age using omics data (2022) · cites this paper as [80]
Self-check
Percentages, sums and reported differences re-computed from the paper’s own numbers.
The self-check needs the paper’s full text.
Cites
López-Otín, C., Blasco, M. A., Partridge, L., Serrano, M., & Kroemer, G. (2013) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.039 · Cited by 14,982 · see citing works
DNA methylation age of human tissues and cell types
Horvath, S. (2013) · Genome Biology · doi:10.1186/gb-2013-14-10-r115 · Cited by 7,075 · see citing works
Genome-wide methylation profiles reveal quantitative views of human aging rates
Hannum, G., Guinney, J., Zhao, L., Zhang, L., Hughes, G., Sadda, S., Klotzle, B., Bibikova, M., Fan, J.-B., Gao, Y., et al. (2013) · Molecular Cell · doi:10.1016/j.molcel.2012.10.016 · Cited by 4,270 · see citing works
A short questionnaire for the measurement of habitual physical activity in epidemiological studies
Baecke, J. A. H., BUREMA, J., & Frijters, J. E. R. (1982) · American Journal of Clinical Nutrition · doi:10.1093/ajcn/36.5.936 · Cited by 3,950 · see citing works
An epigenetic biomarker of aging for lifespan and healthspan
Levine, M. E., Lu, A. T., Quach, A., Chen, B. H., Assimes, T. L., Bandinelli, S., Hou, L., Baccarelli, A. A., Stewart, J. D., Li, Y., et al. (2018) · Aging · doi:10.18632/aging.101414 · Cited by 3,675 · see citing works
DNA methylation-based biomarkers and the epigenetic clock theory of ageing
Horvath, S., & Raj, K. (2018) · Nature Reviews Genetics · doi:10.1038/s41576-018-0004-3 · Cited by 3,095 · see citing works
DNA methylation GrimAge strongly predicts lifespan and healthspan
Lu, A. T., Quach, A., Wilson, J. G., Reiner, A. P., Aviv, A., Raj, K., Hou, L., Baccarelli, A. A., Li, Y., Stewart, J. D., et al. (2019) · Aging · doi:10.18632/aging.101684 · Cited by 2,540 · see citing works
Sarcopenia: origins and clinical relevance
Rosenberg, I. H. (1997) · The Journal of Nutrition · doi:10.1093/jn/127.5.990s · Cited by 2,399 · see citing works
A simple method for measurement of mechanical power in jumping
Bosco, C., Luhtanen, P., & Komi, P. V. (1983) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/bf00422166 · Cited by 1,717 · see citing works
Teschendorff, A. E., Marabita, F., Lechner, M., Bartlett, T. E., Tegner, J. N., Gómez-Cabrero, D., & Beck, S. (2012) · Bioinformatics · doi:10.1093/bioinformatics/bts680 · Cited by 1,652 · see citing works
Midlife Hand Grip Strength as a Predictor of Old Age Disability
Rantanen, T. (1999) · JAMA · doi:10.1001/jama.281.6.558 · Cited by 1,481 · see citing works
Enright, P. (2003) · Respiratory Care · doi:10.4187/respcare.03480783 · Cited by 1,382 · see citing works
Validation and comparison of ActiGraph activity monitors
Sasaki, J. E., John, D., & Freedson, P. S. (2011) · Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport · doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2011.04.003 · Cited by 1,317 · see citing works
Cellular and molecular mechanisms of muscle atrophy
Bonaldo, P., & Sandri, M. (2013) · Disease Models & Mechanisms · doi:10.1242/dmm.010389 · Cited by 1,284 · see citing works
DNA methylation-based measures of biological age: meta-analysis predicting time to death
Chen, B. H., Marioni, R. E., Colicino, E., Peters, M. J., Ward-Caviness, C. K., Tsai, P.-C., Roetker, N. S., Just, A. C., Demerath, E. W., Guan, W., et al. (2016) · Aging · doi:10.18632/aging.101020 · Cited by 1,126 · see citing works
Preprocessing, normalization and integration of the Illumina HumanMethylationEPIC array with minfi
Fortin, J.-P., Triche, T. J., & Hansen, K. D. (2016) · Bioinformatics · doi:10.1093/bioinformatics/btw691 · Cited by 867 · see citing works
Epigenetic clock analysis of diet, exercise, education, and lifestyle factors
Quach, A., Levine, M. E., Tanaka, T., Lu, A. T., Chen, B. H., Ferrucci, L., Ritz, B., Bandinelli, S., Neuhouser, M. L., Beasley, J. M., et al. (2017) · Aging · doi:10.18632/aging.101168 · Cited by 801 · see citing works
Sarcopenia: origins and clinical relevance
Rosenberg, I. H. (2011) · Clinics in Geriatric Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.cger.2011.03.003 · Cited by 786 · see citing works
Obesity accelerates epigenetic aging of human liver
Horvath, S., Erhart, W., Brosch, M., Ammerpohl, O., Schönfels, W. V., Ahrens, M., Heits, N., Bell, J. T., Tsai, P.-C., Spector, T. D., et al. (2014) · Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences · doi:10.1073/pnas.1412759111 · Cited by 760 · see citing works
Decreased Muscle Strength and Quality in Older Adults With Type 2 Diabetes
Park, S. W., Goodpaster, B. H., Strotmeyer, E. S., de Rekeneire, N., Harris, T. B., Schwartz, A. V., Tylavsky, F. A., & Newman, A. B. (2006) · Diabetes · doi:10.2337/db05-1183 · Cited by 751 · see citing works
Marioni, R. E., Shah, S. H., McRae, A. F., Ritchie, S. J., Terrera, G. M., Harris, S. E., Gibson, J., Redmond, P. H., Cox, S. R., Pattie, A., et al. (2015) · International Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/ije/dyu277 · Cited by 559 · see citing works
Bean, J. F., Leveille, S. G., Kiely, D. K., Bandinelli, S., Guralnik, J. M., & Ferrucci, L. (2003) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences · doi:10.1093/gerona/58.8.m728 · Cited by 529 · see citing works
Molecular Choreography of Acute Exercise
Contrepois, K., Wu, S., Moneghetti, K. J., Hornburg, D., Ahadi, S., Tsai, M.-S., Metwally, A. A., Wei, E., Lee-McMullen, B., Quijada, J. V., et al. (2020) · Cell · doi:10.1016/j.cell.2020.04.043 · Cited by 502 · see citing works
McCrory, C., Fiorito, G., Hernandez, B., Polidoro, S., O’Halloran, A. M., Hever, A., Ni Cheallaigh, C., Lu, A. T., Horvath, S., Vineis, P., et al. (2021) · The Journals of Gerontology: Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glaa286 · Cited by 464 · see citing works
Muscular strength as a strong predictor of mortality: A narrative review
Volaklis, K. A., Halle, M., & Meisinger, C. (2015) · European Journal of Internal Medicine · doi:10.1016/j.ejim.2015.04.013 · Cited by 312 · see citing works
DNA methylation age is associated with mortality in a longitudinal Danish twin study
Christiansen, L., Lenart, A. G., Tan, Q., Vaupel, J. W., Aviv, A., McGue, M. K., & Christensen, K. (2015) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/acel.12421 · Cited by 306 · see citing works
Maximal Isometric Strength and Mobility among 75-year-old Men and Women
Rantanen, T., Era, P. A., & Heikkinen, E. M. (1994) · Age and Ageing · doi:10.1093/ageing/23.2.132 · Cited by 300 · see citing works
Runge, M., Rittweger, J., Russo, C. R., Schießl, H., & Felsenberg, D. (2004) · Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging · doi:10.1111/j.1475-097x.2004.00567.x · Cited by 267 · see citing works
The cerebellum ages slowly according to the epigenetic clock
Horvath, S., Mah, V., Lu, A. T., Woo, J. S., Choi, O.-W., Jasinska, A. J., Riancho, J. A., Tung, S., Coles, N. S., Braun, J., et al. (2015) · Aging · doi:10.18632/aging.100742 · Cited by 191 · see citing works
Sillanpää, E., Laaksonen, D. E., Häkkinen, A., Karavirta, L., Jensen, B., Kraemer, W. J., Nyman, K., & Häkkinen, K. (2009) · European Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1007/s00421-009-1013-x · Cited by 186 · see citing works
Self-citationA cross-package Bioconductor workflow for analysing methylation array data
Maksimovic, J., Phipson, B., & Oshlack, A. (2017) · F1000Research · doi:10.12688/f1000research.8839.3 · Cited by 179 · see citing works
Ronkainen, P. H. A., Kovanen, V., Alén, M., Pöllänen, E., Palonen, E.-M., Ankarberg-Lindgren, C., Hämäläinen, E., Turpeinen, U., Kujala, U. M., Puolakka, J., et al. (2009) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.91518.2008 · Cited by 168 · see citing works
Self-citationRegulation of Satellite Cell Function in Sarcopenia
Alway, S. E., Myers, M. J., & Mohamed, J. S. (2014) · Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience · doi:10.3389/fnagi.2014.00246 · Cited by 160 · see citing works
Turner, D. C., Gorski, P. P., Maasar, M. F., Seaborne, R. A., Baumert, P., Brown, A. D., Kitchen, M. O., Erskine, R. M., Dos-Remedios, I., Voisin, S., et al. (2020) · Scientific Reports · doi:10.1038/s41598-020-72730-z · Cited by 139 · see citing works
A cross-package Bioconductor workflow for analysing methylation array data
Maksimovic, J., Phipson, B., & Oshlack, A. (2016) · F1000Research · doi:10.12688/f1000research.8839.2 · Cited by 132 · see citing works
Body composition and fitness during strength and/or endurance training in older men
SILLANPÄÄ, E., HÄKKINEN, A., NYMAN, K., MATTILA, M., CHENG, S., KARAVIRTA, L., LAAKSONEN, D. E., HUUHKA, N., KRAEMER, W. J., & HÄKKINEN, K. (2008) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0b013e318165c854 · Cited by 130 · see citing works
Self-citationThe Older Finnish Twin Cohort — 45 Years of Follow-up
Kaprio, J. A., Bollepalli, S., Buchwald, J., Iso‐Markku, P., Korhonen, T., Kovanen, V., Kujala, U. M., Laakkonen, E. K., Latvala, A., Leskinen, T., et al. (2019) · Twin Research and Human Genetics · doi:10.1017/thg.2019.54 · Cited by 120 · see citing works
Self-citationA cross-package Bioconductor workflow for analysing methylation array data
Maksimovic, J., Phipson, B., & Oshlack, A. (2016) · F1000Research · doi:10.12688/f1000research.8839.1 · Cited by 117 · see citing works
Sillanpää, E., Cheng, S., Häkkinen, K., Finni, T. J., Walker, S., Pesola, A. J., Ahtiainen, J. P., Stenroth, L., Selänne, H., & Sipilä, S. (2013) · Obesity · doi:10.1002/oby.20583 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
Self-citationLevine, A. J., Quach, A., Moore, D. J., Achim, C. L., Soontornniyomkij, V., Masliah, E., Singer, E. J., Gelman, B. B., Nemanim, N. M., & Horvath, S. (2015) · Journal of NeuroVirology · doi:10.1007/s13365-015-0406-3 · Cited by 112 · see citing works
An epigenetic clock for human skeletal muscle
Voisin, S. A. C., Harvey, N. R., Haupt, L. M., Griffiths, L. R., Ashton, K. J., Coffey, V. G., Doering, T. M., Thompson, J. M., Benedict, C., Cedernaes, J., et al. (2020) · Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle · doi:10.1002/jcsm.12556 · Cited by 111 · see citing works
Hirvensalo, M. H., Lampinen, P., & Rantanen, T. (1998) · Journal of Aging and Physical Activity · doi:10.1123/japa.6.2.157 · Cited by 109 · see citing works
Kresovich, J. K., Garval, E. L., Lopez, A. M. M., Xu, Z., Niehoff, N. M., White, A. J., Sandler, D. P., & Taylor, J. A. (2020) · American Journal of Epidemiology · doi:10.1093/aje/kwaa251 · Cited by 108 · see citing works
Causes and consequences of obesity: the contribution of recent twin studies
Naukkarinen, J., Rissanen, A., Kaprio, J. A., & Pietiläinen, K. H. (2011) · International Journal of Obesity · doi:10.1038/ijo.2011.192 · Cited by 97 · see citing works
Self-citationFinnTwin12 Cohort: An Updated Review
Rose, R. J., Salvatore, J. E., Aaltonen, S., Barr, P. B., Bogl, L. H., Byers, H. A., Heikkila, K. V., Korhonen, T., Latvala, A., Palviainen, T., et al. (2019) · Twin Research and Human Genetics · doi:10.1017/thg.2019.83 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Self-citationMustelin, L., Pietiläinen, K. H., Rissanen, A., Sovijärvi, A. R., Piirilä, P., Naukkarinen, J., Peltonen, L., Kaprio, J., & Yki-Järvinen, H. (2008) · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00580.2007 · Cited by 85 · see citing works
Self-citationGenes, physical fitness and ageing
Garatachea, N., & Lucía, A. (2012) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2012.09.003 · Cited by 79 · see citing works
Huang, Y., Ollikainen, M., Muniandy, M., Zhang, T., van Dongen, J., Hao, G., van der Most, P. J., Pan, Y., Pervjakova, N., Sun, Y. V., et al. (2020) · Hypertension · doi:10.1161/hypertensionaha.120.14973 · Cited by 78 · see citing works
Self-citationFinnTwin16: A Longitudinal Study from Age 16 of a Population-Based Finnish Twin Cohort
Kaidesoja, M., Aaltonen, S., Bogl, L. H., Heikkila, K. V., Kaartinen, S., Kujala, U. M., Kärkkäinen, U., Masip, G., Mustelin, L., Palviainen, T., et al. (2019) · Twin Research and Human Genetics · doi:10.1017/thg.2019.106 · Cited by 69 · see citing works
Self-citationKovanen, V., Aukee, P., Kokko, K., Finni, T. J., Tarkka, I. M., Tammelin, T., Kujala, U. M., Sipilä, S., & Laakkonen, E. K. (2018) · Menopause The Journal of The North American Menopause Society · doi:10.1097/gme.0000000000001117 · Cited by 68 · see citing works
Self-citationLeisure-Time and Occupational Physical Activity Associates Differently with Epigenetic Aging
Kankaanpää, A., Tolvanen, A. J., Bollepalli, S., Leskinen, T., Kujala, U. M., Kaprio, J. A., Ollikainen, M., & Sillanpää, E. (2020) · Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise · doi:10.1249/mss.0000000000002498 · Cited by 66 · see citing works
Self-citationSkeletal Muscle Lipid Droplets and the Athlete’s Paradox
Li, X., Li, Z., Zhao, M., Nie, Y., Liu, P., Zhu, Y., & Zhang, X. (2019) · Cells · doi:10.3390/cells8030249 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Leisure-time physical activity and DNA methylation age—a twin study
Sillanpää, E., Ollikainen, M., Kaprio, J. A., Wang, X., Leskinen, T., Kujala, U. M., & Törmäkangas, T. (2019) · Clinical Epigenetics · doi:10.1186/s13148-019-0613-5 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Self-citationPhysical Performance During the Menopausal Transition and the Role of Physical Activity
Bondarev, D., Finni, T. J., Kokko, K., Kujala, U. M., Aukee, P., Kovanen, V., Laakkonen, E. K., & Sipilä, S. (2020) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glaa292 · Cited by 55 · see citing works
Self-citationDrinking and mortality: long‐term follow‐up of drinking‐discordant twin pairs
Sipilä, P. N., Rose, R. J., & Kaprio, J. A. (2015) · Addiction · doi:10.1111/add.13152 · Cited by 54 · see citing works
Self-citationLaakkonen, E. K., Kulmala, J., Aukee, P., Hakonen, H., Kujala, U. M., Lowe, D. A., Kovanen, V., Tammelin, T., & Sipilä, S. (2017) · PLoS ONE · doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0172054 · Cited by 49 · see citing works
Self-citationGenetic variants related to physical activity or sedentary behaviour: a systematic review
Aasdahl, L., Nilsen, T. I. L., Meisingset, I., Nordstoga, A. L., Evensen, K. A. I., Paulsen, J., Mork, P. J., & Skarpsno, E. S. (2021) · International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity · doi:10.1186/s12966-020-01077-5 · Cited by 39 · see citing works
Mustelin, L., Latvala, A., Pietiläinen, K. H., Piirilä, P. L., Sovijärvi, A. R. A., Kujala, U. M., Rissanen, A., & Kaprio, J. A. (2010) · Journal of Applied Physiology · doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.00753.2010 · Cited by 38 · see citing works
Self-citationVolaklis, K. A., Halle, M., Köenig, W., Oberhoffer, R., Grill, E., Peters, A., Strasser, B., Heier, M., Emeny, R. T., Schulz, H., et al. (2015) · Clinical Research in Cardiology · doi:10.1007/s00392-015-0867-7 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Stephenson, M. E., Bollepalli, S., Cazaly, E., Salvatore, J. E., Barr, P. B., Rose, R. J., Dick, D. M., Kaprio, J. A., & Ollikainen, M. (2020) · Alcoholism Clinical and Experimental Research · doi:10.1111/acer.14528 · Cited by 34 · see citing works
Self-citationBiological clocks and physical functioning in monozygotic female twins
Sillanpää, E., Laakkonen, E. K., Vaara, E. M., Rantanen, T., Kovanen, V., Sipilä, S., Kaprio, J. A., & Ollikainen, M. (2018) · BMC Geriatrics · doi:10.1186/s12877-018-0775-6 · Cited by 29 · see citing works
Self-citationSkeletal muscle aging – Stem cells in the spotlight
Henze, H., Jung, M. J., Ahrens, H. E., Steiner, S., & von Maltzahn, J. (2020) · Mechanisms of Ageing and Development · doi:10.1016/j.mad.2020.111283 · Cited by 28 · see citing works
Hyvärinen, M., Sipilä, S., Kulmala, J., Hakonen, H., Tammelin, T., Kujala, U. M., Kovanen, V., & Laakkonen, E. K. (2019) · Journal of Aging and Physical Activity · doi:10.1123/japa.2019-0093 · Cited by 27 · see citing works
Self-citationIdentification and Characterization of an OSH1 Thiol Reductase from Populus trichocarpa
Wei, H., Zhou, J., Xu, C., Movahedi, A., Sun, W., Li, D., & Zhuge, Q. (2019) · Cells · doi:10.3390/cells9010076 · Cited by 13 · see citing works
Flagged first, then by citations
Cited by
Sorted by citations
Measuring biological age using omics data
Rutledge, J., Oh, H., & Wyss-Coray, T. (2022) · Nature Reviews Genetics · doi:10.1038/s41576-022-00511-7 · Cited by 570 · see citing works
Chervova, O., Panteleeva, K., Chernysheva, E., Widayati, T. A., Baronik, Z. F., Hrbková, N., Schneider, J., Bobák, M., Beck, S., & Voloshin, V. (2024) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2024.102552 · Cited by 86 · see citing works
Exercise is associated with younger methylome and transcriptome profiles in human skeletal muscle
Voisin, S. A. C., Seale, K., Jacques, M., Landen, S., Harvey, N. R., Haupt, L. M., Griffiths, L. R., Ashton, K. J., Coffey, V. G., Thompson, J. M., et al. (2023) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/acel.13859 · Cited by 76 · see citing works
Self-citationRecent progress in epigenetics of obesity
Wu, F., & Yin, R. (2022) · Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome · doi:10.1186/s13098-022-00947-1 · Cited by 65 · see citing works
Biomarkers of aging: from molecules and surrogates to physiology and function
Furrer, R., & Handschin, C. (2025) · Physiological Reviews · doi:10.1152/physrev.00045.2024 · Cited by 62 · see citing works
Epigenetic Regulation of Aging and its Rejuvenation
An, Y., Wang, Q., Gao, K., Zhang, C., Ouyang, Y., Li, R., Zhou, M., Wu, T., Zhou, L., Xie, Z., et al. (2025) · MedComm · doi:10.1002/mco2.70369 · Cited by 44 · see citing works
Kawamura, T., Radak, Z. O., Tabata, H., Akiyama, H., Nakamura, N., Kawakami, R., Ito, T., Usui, C., Jókai, M., Torma, F., et al. (2023) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/acel.13960 · Cited by 37 · see citing works
Quantification of Epigenetic Aging in Public Health
Kusters, C., & Horvath, S. (2024) · Annual Review of Public Health · doi:10.1146/annurev-publhealth-060222-015657 · Cited by 33 · see citing works
Drugs, clocks and exercise in ageing: hype and hope, fact and fiction
Furrer, R., & Handschin, C. (2022) · The Journal of Physiology · doi:10.1113/jp282887 · Cited by 25 · see citing works
Föhr, T., Törmäkangas, T., Lankila, H., Viljanen, A., Rantanen, T., Ollikainen, M., Kaprio, J. A., & Sillanpää, E. (2021) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glab270 · Cited by 26 · see citing works
Self-citationBenavente, E. D., Hartman, R. J. G., Sakkers, T. R., Wesseling, M., Sloots, Y., Slenders, L., Boltjes, A., Mol, B. M., de Borst, G. J., de Kleijn, D. P. V., et al. (2024) · Arteriosclerosis Thrombosis and Vascular Biology · doi:10.1161/atvbaha.123.320692 · Cited by 22 · see citing works
Eight Weeks of Physical Training Decreases 2 Years of DNA Methylation Age of Sedentary Women
Rodrigues, G. D. S., Noma, I. H. Y., Noronha, N., Watanabe, L. M., Sobrinho, A. C. D. S., de Lima, J. R. D., Sae-Lee, C., Benjamim, C. J. R., Nonino, C., & Bueno, C. (2023) · Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport · doi:10.1080/02701367.2023.2228388 · Cited by 14 · see citing works
Jacques, M., Landen, S., Sharples, A. P., Garnham, A., Schittenhelm, R., Steele, J., Heikkinen, A., Sillanpää, E., Ollikainen, M., Broatch, J., et al. (2025) · Cell Reports · doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2025.115750 · Cited by 23 · see citing works
Self-citationNagata, M., Komaki, S., Nishida, Y., Ohmomo, H., Hara, M., Tanaka, K., & Shimizu, A. (2024) · Clinical Epigenetics · doi:10.1186/s13148-024-01756-1 · Cited by 19 · see citing works
Exercise and epigenetic ages in older adults with myeloid malignancies
Loh, K. P., Sanapala, C., Jensen‐Battaglia, M., Rana, A., Sohn, M. B., Watson, E., Gilmore, N. J., Klepin, H. D., Mendler, J. H., Liesveld, J. L., et al. (2023) · European journal of medical research · doi:10.1186/s40001-023-01145-z · Cited by 20 · see citing works
Accelerated aging of skeletal muscle and the immune system in patients with chronic liver disease
Nicholson, T. A., Dhaliwal, A., Quinlan, J. I., Allen, S., Williams, F. R., Hazeldine, J., McGee, K. C., Sullivan, J., Breen, L., Elsharkawy, A. M., et al. (2024) · Experimental & Molecular Medicine · doi:10.1038/s12276-024-01287-y · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Marttila, S., Tamminen, H., Rajić, S., Mishra, P. P., Lehtimäki, T. J., Raitakari, O. T., Kähönen, M. A. P., Kananen, L., Jylhävä, J., Hägg, S., et al. (2022) · Epigenomics · doi:10.2217/epi-2022-0228 · Cited by 16 · see citing works
Self-citationMeasuring biological age: Insights from omics studies
Kočar, E., Šket, R., Vasle, A. H., Avguštin, G., Benedik, E., Seljak, B. K., Simić, P., Martinko, A., Morrison, S. A., Sorić, M., et al. (2025) · Ageing Research Reviews · doi:10.1016/j.arr.2025.102988 · Cited by 21 · see citing works
Skeletal muscle DNA methylation: Effects of exercise and HIV
Jankowski, C. M., Konigsberg, I. R., Wilson, M. P., Sun, J., Brown, T. T., Julian, C. G., & Erlandson, K. M. (2023) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/acel.14025 · Cited by 11 · see citing works
Biological Ageing Acceleration and Functional Capacities Across the Lifespan in the INSPIRE‐T Cohort
Sánchez‐Sánchez, J. L., Vellas, B. J., Guyonnet, S., Bensadoun, P., Lemaı̂tre, J.-M., Fuentealba, M., Pillard, F., Rolland, Y., Furman, D., & Barreto, P. D. S. (2025) · Journal of Cachexia Sarcopenia and Muscle · doi:10.1002/jcsm.70046 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Jacques, M., Landen, S., Sharples, A. P., GARNHAM, A. P., Schittenhelm, R. B., Stele, J., Heikkinen, A., Sillanpää, E., Ollikainen, M., Broatch, J. R., et al. (2024) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2024.07.14.603458 · Cited by 6 · see citing works
Self-citationThe influence of biological sex in human skeletal muscle transcriptome during ageing
Huang, X., Chen, M., Xiao, Y., Zhu, F., Chen, L., Tian, X., & Hong, L. (2023) · Biogerontology · doi:10.1007/s10522-023-10070-x · Cited by 5 · see citing works
Tay, J., Wang, W., Guan, L., Dorajoo, R., Khor, C.-C., Feng, L., Kennedy, B. K., Chong, Y. S., Ng, T. P., Koh, W., et al. (2025) · The Journals of Gerontology Series A · doi:10.1093/gerona/glaf022 · Cited by 4 · see citing works
Epigenetics of sarcopenia: Insights into mechanisms and interventions for healthy muscle aging
Wang, J., Enechojo, O. S., Shi, Y., Cao, D., Guo, T., Zhong, J., Lin, Y., Bian, Y., Wang, X., & Liu, A. (2026) · Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy · doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2025.118960 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Pîrlog, L.-M., Catana, A. M., Pitforodeschi, A.-D., Pilatec, A.-N., Băilă, R.-M., Rusu, I., Militaru, M.-S., Iordănescu, I. I., & Belbe, A.-A. (2026) · Genes · doi:10.3390/genes17060681 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Twin pair analysis uncovers links between DNA methylation, mitochondrial DNA quantity and obesity
Heikkinen, A., Esser, V. F. C., Lee, S. H. T., Lundgren, S., Hakkarainen, A., Lundbom, J., Kuula, J., Groop, P., Heinonen, S., Villicaña, S., et al. (2025) · Nature Communications · doi:10.1038/s41467-025-59576-7 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationHeikkinen, A., Uusitalo‐Kylmälä, L., Blom, I., Helge, J. W., Gillberg, L., Seaborne, R. A. E., Larsen, S., Jacques, M., Grolaux, R., Aaltonen, S., et al. (2026) · Aging Cell · doi:10.1111/acel.70638 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Self-citationRegenerative rehabilitation measures to restore tissue function after arsenic exposure
Jasper, A. A., Shah, K. H., Karim, H. T., Gujral, S., Miljkovic, I., Rosano, C., Barchowsky, A., & Sahu, A. (2024) · Current Opinion in Biomedical Engineering · doi:10.1016/j.cobme.2024.100529 · Cited by 3 · see citing works
Epigenetics of Metabolic Diseases
Gillberg, L., & Hjort, L. (2022) · Elsevier eBooks · doi:10.1016/b978-0-323-91909-8.00026-8 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Bridging the gap: multi-omic insights into exercise responses in postmenopausal women
Aiyanna, R. K., Wang, S., Grolaux, R., Reisman, E. G., Jones, B., & Eynon, N. (2026) · American Journal of Physiology-Endocrinology and Metabolism · doi:10.1152/ajpendo.00172.2026 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Marttila, S., Tamminen, H., Rajić, S., Mishra, P. P., Lehtimäki, T. J., Raitakari, O. T., Kähönen, M. A. P., Kananen, L., Jylhävä, J., Hägg, S., et al. (2022) · bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory) · doi:10.1101/2022.06.21.496995 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Self-citationHartman, R. J. G., Benavente, E. D., Slenders, L., Boltjes, A., Mol, B. M., de Borst, G. J., de Kleijn, D. P. V., Prange, K. H. M., de Winther, M. P. J., Kuiper, J., et al. (2023) · medRxiv · doi:10.1101/2023.02.16.23286067 · Cited by 1 · see citing works
Additional file 3 of Exercise and epigenetic ages in older adults with myeloid malignancies
Loh, K. P., Sanapala, C., Jensen‐Battaglia, M., Rana, A., Sohn, M. B., Watson, E., Gilmore, N. J., Klepin, H. D., Mendler, J. H., Liesveld, J., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26592788
Additional file 2 of Exercise and epigenetic ages in older adults with myeloid malignancies
Loh, K. P., Sanapala, C., Jensen‐Battaglia, M., Rana, A., Sohn, M. B., Watson, E., Gilmore, N. J., Klepin, H. D., Mendler, J. H., Liesveld, J., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26592785
Additional file 1 of Exercise and epigenetic ages in older adults with myeloid malignancies
Loh, K. P., Sanapala, C., Jensen‐Battaglia, M., Rana, A., Sohn, M. B., Watson, E., Gilmore, N. J., Klepin, H. D., Mendler, J. H., Liesveld, J., et al. (2024) · Figshare · doi:10.6084/m9.figshare.26592782
Gonsalves, S. G., Zhao, J. J., Livinski, A. A., Steele, M. E., Ross, A., Fuss, T., Clevenger, K. A., & Saligan, L. N. (2026) · Physiological Measurement · doi:10.1088/1361-6579/ae3b96
Physical activity and biological ageing: the need for stronger causal evidence
Kankaanpää, A., & Sillanpää, E. (2026) · The Lancet Healthy Longevity · doi:10.1016/j.lanhl.2026.100845
Self-citationWang, J., & Li, J. (2026) · Biochemical Genetics · doi:10.1007/s10528-026-11418-x
Understanding and making sense of epigenetic age misalignment across different aging clocks
Johnson, A. A., & Shokhirev, M. N. (2026) · Epigenomics · doi:10.1080/17501911.2026.2708567 · Cited by 2 · see citing works
Proteomic ageing clocks: methods, mechanisms and the muscle connection
Reisman, E. G., Jacques, M., Grolaux, R., Gladyshev, V. N., & Eynon, N. (2026) · Genome biology · doi:10.1186/s13059-026-04220-w
Rodrigues, G. D. S., Neto, I. V. D. S., Kawamura, T., Carolino, R. O. G., Pinto, A. P., dos Santos, J. D. M., Cintra, D. E., Ropelle, E. R., Pauli, J. R., de Freitas, E. C., et al. (2026) · Physiological Genomics · doi:10.1152/physiolgenomics.00089.2026
Physical activity, sedentary behavior, sleep quality and the biological aging clocks
Raffin, J., Rolland, Y., Guyonnet, S., Vellas, B. J., Barreto, P. D. S., I. H. U. HealthAge INSPIRE/Open Science study group, Brigitte, L., Milhet, A., Paez, E., Müller, E., et al. (2026) · GeroScience · doi:10.1007/s11357-026-02592-2
- Authors
- Sillanpää, E., Heikkinen, A., Kankaanpää, A., Paavilainen, A., Kujala, U. M., Tammelin, T. H., Kovanen, V., Sipilä, S., Pietiläinen, K. H., Kaprio, J., Ollikainen, M., & Laakkonen, E. K.
- Affiliations
- University of Helsinki (FI)
- University of Jyväskylä (FI)
- LIKES – Foundation for Sport and Health Sciences (FI)
- Corresponding author
- Sillanpää, Elina
- ORCID
- Venue
- Clinical Epigenetics
- Published
- 2021-05-17
- Volume
- 13
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 110-110
- ISSN
- 1868-7075 (ISSN-L)
- 1868-7083
- PMC
- PMC8127311
- OpenAlex
- W3163231593
- Cited by
- 43
- References
- 64
- Citations by year
- 2026: 11 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 10 · 2023: 8 · 2022: 6 · 2021: 1
- FWCI
- 1.96
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Clinical Epigenetics (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Jyväskylä University Digital Archive (University of Jyväskylä) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Työväentutkimus Vuosikirja (submittedVersion)
- Funders
- Academy of Finland (260001, 275323, 314383, 266286, 213506, 308248, 312073, 336823, 297908, 251316, 309504, 314181)
- Juho Vainion Säätiö
- Yrjö Jahnssonin Säätiö
- Acedemy of Finland Center of Excellence in Research on Mitochondria, Metabolism and Disease (272376)
- Suomen Lääketieteen Säätiö
- Signe ja Ane Gyllenbergin Säätiö
- Novo Nordisk Fonden (NNF17OC0027232, NNF10OC1013354)
- Finnish Diabetes foundation
- Finnish foundation for cardiovascular health
- Finnish government research funds
- Helsinki University Hospital
- EC FP5 GenomEUTwin
- National Institutes of Health (HL104125)
- EC MC ITN (EPITRAIN)
- Sigrid Juséliuksen Säätiö
- University of Helsinki research funds
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Aging › Genetics, Aging, and Longevity in Model Organisms
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Telomeres, Telomerase, and Senescence
- Keywords
- epigenetic clocks, DNA methylation age, skeletal muscle aging, physical activity, physical function, body composition, cardiorespiratory fitness, muscle strength, monozygotic twin concordance, Horvath clock, GrimAge, meat, accelerated aging, smoking, sex differences
- MeSH terms
- Adult, Aged, Aging, Female, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Cohort Studies, Exercise, Muscle, Skeletal, DNA Methylation, Epigenesis, Genetic, Young Adult, Epigenomics
About these checks
Registry, retraction, Cites and statistics results are computed, not judged, with one exception: a printed reference that no index lists is read once by a model before it counts as a citation error. Claims are extracted by a model and kept only when their quote appears verbatim in the text; each cited source is then checked, with a model’s help, for whether it says what the claim relies on. Those verdicts can be wrong — read the claim’s quote and the cited source before relying on one.
Statistics and arithmetic are recomputed, not judged.
Confidence bands are shown only for fields calibrated on our annotated test set. None is calibrated yet, so no band is shown.
What counts as a claim ›How we measure confidence ›How we check this ›
Are you an author, or do you see a problem with this page? Request a review
