Grant: Project Grant

Aging is a complex process that involves a host of physiological changes. Approximately 25% of the variation in human lifespan is attributed to genetics, with the remainder proposed as being associated with life style or environmental exposure. Epigenetics is the study of how experiences can "get under the skin" by acting as a mediator between environmental influences and genetics. DNA methylation is the most well studied epigenetic mark, and has the potential to influence how certain genes are turned on or off in association with environmental or life styles exposures, such as stress or smoking. We aim to assess DNA methylation in the longevity population of Costa Rica, the Nicoya Peninsula, to characterize an epigenetic blueprint of healthy aging. Our preliminary pilot study results suggest that age-related DNA methylation trends are different in high longevity populations when compared to individuals from adjacent control regions. We propose to expand our sample size in Nicoya, and investigate two other longevity populations: Sardinia, Italy and Ikaria Greece. We then propose to compare these findings with the DNA methylation profiles of Canadians from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging. The characterization of biological aging will not only aid in understanding the etiology of age-related disease but will contribute to eventually extending the number of healthy and mobile years Canadians spend in old age.