Lexicon
GrimAge
Definition
GrimAge is one of the epigenetic clocks in which biological age is estimated using DNA methylation data from specific CpG dinucleotide sites, and it continues to stand out for its ability to predict morbidity and mortality. [1] It is classed among second-generation epigenetic clocks capable of quantifying biological age acceleration, alongside DunedinPACE. [2]
How it works
GrimAge estimates biological age from DNA methylation at specific CpG sites and was designed to predict morbidity and mortality rather than chronological age alone. [1]
Connected concepts
How it's measured
GrimAge is computed from blood DNA methylation data, and its output is typically expressed as GrimAge acceleration, the age-adjusted residual against chronological age. [1] [3] Different versions of the GrimAge model tend to systematically overestimate the age prediction of healthy subjects. [4]
What levels mean
Higher GrimAge epigenetic age acceleration is consistently associated with higher frailty in both cross-sectional and longitudinal meta-analyses. [5] In a Mendelian randomization study, higher GrimAge acceleration increased the risk of colorectal cancer, with an odds ratio of 1.12 per year increase in GrimAge acceleration. [6] Higher physical activity is significantly associated with lower
Community knowledge
## Clock Design and Interpretation
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- 1.Protsenko E, Wolkowitz OM, Yaffe K. Associations of stress and stress-related psychiatric disorders with GrimAge acceleration: review and suggestions for future work. Transl Psychiatry · 2023
- 2.Silveira IN, Guterres A. The aging paradox of Cushing's syndrome: Stress without clear senescence? J Neuroendocrinol · 2026
- 3.Pan Y, Sun X, Huang Z, Zhang R, Li C, Anderson AH, Lash JP, Kelly TN. Effects of epigenetic age acceleration on kidney function: a Mendelian randomization study. Clin Epigenetics · 2023
- 4.Yusipov I, Kalyakulina A, Trukhanov A, Franceschi C, Ivanchenko M. Map of epigenetic age acceleration: A worldwide analysis. Ageing Res Rev · 2024
- 5.Tay JH, Barros D, Wang W, Wazny VK, Maier AB. Biological age measured by DNA methylation clocks and frailty: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet Healthy Longev · 2025
- 6.
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