Blood test that estimates how fast your body is aging (DunedinPoAm4x)
Validating a 3rd-generation methylation measure of accelerated aging: DunedinPoAm4x
This project builds a blood-based test that estimates an adult’s pace of biological aging to support research on aging and Alzheimer’s-related conditions.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Duke University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Durham, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11129635 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If I were involved, researchers would use a single small blood sample to read DNA methylation patterns that reflect how quickly my body is aging. The DunedinPoAm4x score was trained on decades of repeated health measures from a group followed since birth, and the team is checking how well the score works in other groups. They plan to finalize the measure, share the method with other scientists, and apply it in studies and trials to see if treatments can slow biological aging. Over time, this could help link faster aging to higher Alzheimer’s risk and give a way to test interventions aimed at slowing that process.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults able to provide a blood sample—especially middle-aged or older adults or people at risk for Alzheimer’s or related dementias—are the best fit for this work.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate clinical treatment for dementia symptoms or those unable to give a blood sample are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the test could let researchers and clinicians detect changes in biological aging and help determine whether treatments lower the risk or progression of dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Earlier generations of methylation-based aging measures and Dunedin cohort work have shown promising links to health and aging, but using these scores to guide clinical trials is still an emerging area.
Where this research is happening
Durham, United States
- Duke University — Durham, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Moffitt, Terrie E — Duke University
- Study coordinator: Moffitt, Terrie E
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.