Epigenetic clocks and survival to 90 with or without cognitive impairment in older women
In 5,844 women, higher epigenetic age acceleration at baseline was linked to lower odds of surviving to age 90 versus dying earlier, but no clock distinguished survival with preserved cognition from survival with cognitive impairment. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Fifteen epigenetic clocks were measured at baseline in 1996-1999 among 5,844 women, with outcomes of survival to age 90 with or without cognitive impairment versus death before 90. [1]
Higher epigenetic age acceleration was associated with lower odds of surviving to age 90 versus dying earlier, with stronger associations for second- and third-generation clocks. [1]
No clock was more strongly associated with survival to age 90 with preserved cognition than with survival to age 90 with cognitive impairment, relative to death before age 90. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Observational cohort study (abstract)
- Population / context
- 5,844 women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 1, 2026
Women's Health Initiative Memory Study cohort and outcomes
The study followed 5,844 women from the Women's Health Initiative Memory Study. Fifteen epigenetic clocks were measured at baseline in 1996-1999. Outcomes were survival to age 90 with preserved cognition (1,726 women, 29.5%), survival to age 90 with cognitive impairment (956, 16.4%), or death before age 90 (2,611, 44.7%). Logistic and multinomial logistic models compared these groups, adjusting for covariates.
Supporting source [1]
Stronger clock associations with survival to 90
Each standard deviation higher epigenetic age acceleration on first-generation clocks was associated with 7%-18% lower odds of surviving to age 90 versus dying earlier. Associations were stronger for second- and third-generation clocks, for example AgeAccelGrim2 (odds ratio 0.66; 95% CI 0.61-0.71), PCGrimAge (0.64; 0.59-0.69), PCPhenoAge (0.73; 0.68-0.78) and DunedinPACE (0.77; 0.72-0.82). These are associations, not evidence of cause.
Supporting source [1]
No clock separated cognitive outcomes at age 90
No clock was more strongly associated with survival to age 90 with preserved cognition than with survival to age 90 with cognitive impairment, each compared with death before age 90. The authors conclude that all clocks were associated with exceptional longevity but none with cognitive healthspan, and that clocks able to distinguish long survival with and without preserved cognition are needed. This abstract reports the study; the full text was not reviewed.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is an observational cohort study reporting associations, not causes. Results apply to these women and cannot show that changing clock values changes survival or cognition.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
LaCroix AZ, Zhang B, Nguyen S, Resnick SM, Ferrucci L, Horvath S, Lu AT, Espeland MA, Rapp SR, Beckman K, Nievergelt C, Maihofer AX, McEvoy LK, Shadyab AH. · europepmc.org · October 1, 2026