Steve Horvath on Epigenetics, Aging, and Reversing the Biological Clock | WIRED Health

At WIRED Health 2025, Steve Horvath, Principal Investigator at Altos Labs, offered a fascinating dive into how epigenetics could change the future of ageing and rejuvenation. Known for developing the Horvath Clock, a tool that measures biological age through DNA methylation, Steve explained why our biological age (how our cells are really ageing) is far more telling than chronological age (the number of years we’ve lived). Steve’s work at Altos Labs is pioneering efforts to not just slow down aging but to reverse it. By understanding the biological processes at play, he and his team are investigating ways to rejuvenate cells and restore them to a healthier state—potentially erasing years of damage caused by age and disease. Fun fact: Steve first once tested his own GrimAge clock and discovered his biological age was five years older than his chronological age. This prompted him to adopt lifestyle changes to improve his health. Key insights from the session: - The science behind the Horvath Clock and how it measures true biological age - Why distinguishing between chronological and biological age is crucial to understanding aging - What cellular reprogramming and epigenetic rejuvenation could mean for the future of longevity - The connection between epigenetics and age-related conditions like dementia, heart disease, and cancer - The potential impact of lifestyle and environmental factors on biological age, and whether we can reverse these effects Steve also tackled some tough questions, discussing the challenges of rejuvenating human cells, the ethics around longevity, and how the science might eventually make its way into clinical treatments. ABOUT WIRED WIRED brings you the future as it happens - the people, the trends, the big ideas that will change our lives. An award-winning printed monthly and online publication. WIRED is an agenda-setting magazine offering brain food on a wide range of topics, from science, technology and business to pop-culture and politics. CONNECT WITH WIRED 🎟️ Events: wired.uk/events 📩 Subscribe for Event Updates: bit.ly/3K0Un0f 📰 Newsletter: bit.ly/3K0Un0f