Nanopore study of age-linked methylation at imprinted loci in whole blood
In 7,284 whole blood samples, nanopore sequencing found age-associated methylation changes at over 20% of measured high-quality CpG units, mostly hypomethylation, and 702 units with parent-of-origin specific age association, mostly at imprinted regions. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Nanopore long-read sequencing was applied to 7,284 whole blood samples, measuring 17,959,684 high-quality CpG units. [1]
More than 20% of measured high-quality CpG units showed age-associated changes, predominantly hypomethylation. [1]
Phasing to parental haplotypes revealed 702 high-quality CpG units with parent-of-origin specific age association, mostly at imprinted regions. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Abstract of a nanopore sequencing study of DNA methylation
- Population / context
- 7,284 whole blood samples described in the abstract
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- July 29, 2026
Whole blood samples measured by nanopore sequencing
The abstract describes applying nanopore long-read sequencing to 7,284 whole blood samples. This allowed methylation measurement of 17,959,684 high-quality CpG units. The authors state that aging is accompanied by widespread DNA methylation changes, but that the full genomic scope and parent-of-origin dynamics remain poorly understood. These are the stated context and measurement approach; the abstract does not report participant ages, sampling times or how samples were selected.
Supporting source [1]
Over 20% of CpG units show age-associated change
According to the abstract, more than 20% of the measured high-quality CpG units undergo age-associated changes, predominantly hypomethylation. From these data the authors constructed a methylation aging clock from 1,373 high-quality CpG units, with a median absolute prediction error of 2.43 years. Phasing methylation to parental haplotypes uncovered 702 high-quality CpG units with parent-of-origin specific age association, most located at imprinted genomic regions. At the DIRAS3 locus, age-dependent hypermethylation was detected on the active paternal allele, which the authors interpret as attenuation of parent-of-origin specific methylation with age. These are associations, not demonstrated causes of aging.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope of the methylation findings
The abstract presents nanopore sequencing as a tool for mapping genome-wide and parent-of-origin specific signatures of methylation aging and reports evidence that methylation patterns at imprinted loci become progressively altered with age. It does not report the study design in detail, participant characteristics, follow-up, or whether findings were replicated. The full text was not reviewed. The clock error of 2.43 years is a prediction measure reported in this dataset, not a clinical result. No health or lifespan outcome is described.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract does not report detailed study design, participant characteristics, follow-up, replication or health outcomes. Findings are associations, not causes.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Sigurpalsdottir B, Holley G, Sverrisson SÞ, Magnusdottir DN, Olafsson PI, Gylfason A, Magnusson OÞ, Masson G, Stefansson OA, Halldorsson BV. · europepmc.org · July 29, 2026