Telomeres & Epigenetic Aging: The Clock Inside Your Cells

Did you know your cells have a hidden clock measuring how fast you're aging? ⏱️ In this episode of Pawsitively Science, we explore two remarkable ways scientists read your biological age: telomeres (protective caps on DNA) and epigenetic aging clocks (DNA methylation patterns). These tools reveal your true biological age - separate from how many years you've lived. 🧬 The most eye-opening discovery? Larger breed dogs show accelerated epigenetic aging compared to smaller dogs, aging biologically 0.37 years faster per calendar year. Even more striking, dogs aging faster than their actual age have a 34% higher risk of death. Dig Deeper: 🎙️ Listen to our podcast episode "Epigenetic Clocks & Dog Aging: Why Larger Dogs Age Faster with Dr. Blaise Mariner" at longevityfordogs.org Learn more at dogaginginstitute.org Like and subscribe for more science-based content on canine health and aging! CITATIONS 📘 McCoy BM, Mariner BL, Cheng CF, et al; Dog Aging Project Consortium. Aging at scale: younger dogs and larger breeds from the Dog Aging Project show accelerated epigenetic aging. bioRxiv. Published online October 29, 2024. doi:10.1101/2024.10.03.616519 📘 Sohrab V, White ME, Harrison BR, et al; Dog Aging Project Consortium. Blood biomarkers and breed genetics of aging in pet dogs. bioRxiv. Published online March 7, 2026. doi:10.64898/2026.03.07.710297