Jena, August 17, 2026. Researchers at the Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena have achieved a major breakthrough in aging research. They have unlocked the mystery surrounding the functionality of epigenetic aging clocks and developed a new method for determining biological age.
- Event: Deciphering of epigenetic aging clocks by FLI researchers in Jena
- Core Innovation: Development of the ‘TFMethyl Clock’ to explain biological mechanisms
- Participants: Team led by Steve Hoffmann, Alena van Bömmel, and Tushar Patel (FLI Jena) in cooperation with international partners
Deciphering the ‘Black Box’
For years, epigenetic clocks have been considered reliable tools in science for predicting a person’s chronological age based on chemical markers on the DNA (so-called DNA methylation). However, these methods were previously hindered by the fact that it was unclear which biological processes they were actually measuring. In the scientific community, this was often referred to as a ‘black box’.
A team led by Steve Hoffmann, Alena van Bömmel, and lead author Tushar Patel from FLI Jena, in collaboration with partners from Jerusalem, Edinburgh, and London, specifically investigated the DNA regions of known aging clocks. The focus was on transcription factors—the proteins that turn genes on and off, thereby controlling essential biological processes.
The New ‘TFMethyl Clock’
Contrary to initial assumptions, it was found that many previous DNA markers do not actually lie within these regulatory-important regions. Based on their analyses, the Jena scientists developed the new TFMethyl Clock. This model specifically considers DNA methylation sites in the binding regions of transcription factors.
The new model not only predicts age with extreme precision but also provides, for the first time, concrete insights into the biological mechanisms behind aging signals. In doing so, the researchers discovered signaling pathways related to chronic inflammatory processes (“inflammaging”) as well as lipid metabolism.
Background: Aging Research in Jena
The Leibniz Institute on Aging – Fritz Lipmann Institute (FLI) in Jena is the first German research institution dedicated to the biomedical study of the molecular mechanisms of aging. Through the close integration of basic research and clinical relevance, the institute is one of the leading centers for European aging research. The findings are intended to contribute in the long term to a better understanding of age-related diseases and the development of preventive therapies.
The study results were published in the journals Nucleic Acids Research and npj aging. The new methods could help in the future to identify risks for age-related diseases earlier and to target medical interventions more effectively.
Source:
How old am I? Jena researchers crack the mystery of biological aging clocks
Transparency Note: This article was created automatically, editorially reviewed, and expanded with AI support.