Menopause accelerates biological aging

Abstract

Significance Within an evolutionary framework, aging and reproduction are intrinsically linked. Although both laboratory and epidemiological studies have observed associations between the timing of reproductive senescence and longevity, it is not yet known whether differences in the age of menopause are reflected in biomarkers of aging. Using our recently developed biomarker of aging, the “epigenetic clock,” we examined whether age at menopause is associated with epigenetic age of blood, saliva, and buccal epithelium. This is a definitive study that shows an association between age of menopause and biological aging (measured using the epigenetic clock). Our results also indicate menopause may accelerate the epigenetic aging process in blood and that age at menopause and epigenetic age acceleration share a common genetic signature.