DunedinPACE — the clock of the pace of aging

An epigenetic measure of the pace of aging: how many biological years the body ages per calendar year

A speedometer and a DNA helix with methylation marks — the DunedinPACE pace of aging

DunedinPACE (Pace of Aging Calculated from the Epigenome) is a new-generation epigenetic clock (Belsky et al., 2022). Unlike GrimAge or PhenoAge, it estimates not biological age itself but the speed at which a person is aging right now.

A value around 1.0 means an average pace: one biological year per calendar year. A value of 1.2 is aging 20% faster than average, and 0.8 is slower.

How this clock was developed

The basis was the New Zealand Dunedin study — a cohort of 1,037 people born in 1972–1973. In them the "pace of aging" was measured as the rate of deterioration of 19 biomarkers (heart, vessels, metabolism, kidneys, liver, immunity, lungs) at ages 26, 32, 38 and 45. This pace was "compressed" into an algorithm of 173 DNA-methylation CpG sites.

How to read the result

The indicator is scaled to a mean of 1.0: one biological year per calendar year. In the original cohort the values ranged from 0.40 to 2.44 — that is, the "fastest" aged four times faster than the "slowest." A single blood sample is enough; the result reflects the pace of aging right now, not the accumulated biological age. A related concept is the aging rate coefficient.

Significance and limitations

A higher DunedinPACE is associated with accelerated deterioration of health, disability and increased mortality. In the CALERIE caloric-restriction trial the intervention slightly slowed DunedinPACE — an encouraging but not yet definitive result. It is a research tool.

Calculate using this marker

Calculators where DunedinPACE is used directly:

Biological Age Estimate A quick estimate from height, weight, and body measurements — no labs needed Open PhenoAge (Levine) Nine blood markers — the formula from Morgan Levine et al., 2018 Open

Frequently asked questions

How does DunedinPACE differ from biological age?

Ordinary clocks tell you "how old you are" biologically. DunedinPACE shows the speed: how fast you are aging right now. That is why it notices the effect of lifestyle changes sooner.

Can DunedinPACE be slowed down?

In the CALERIE study moderate caloric restriction slightly slowed the indicator. This is promising, but there is as yet no evidence that it can extend a person's life.

Sources

info

This content is educational and does not replace consultation with a physician. Reference ranges may vary depending on the laboratory and method — rely on the ranges stated on your own test report.

← All glossary terms