DunedinPACE

Epigenetic

DNA Methylation Clocks

DunedinPACE is an epigenetic pace-of-aging clock that estimates how fast your body is aging right now rather than how old it is cumulatively, expressed as biological years accrued per calendar year. It was developed and validated in the Dunedin birth cohort. A longevity practice tracks it because it captures the current trajectory of aging and how that trajectory is shifting over time.

What It Measures

Pace-of-aging clock; measures speed of biological aging rather than cumulative age; validated in the Dunedin birth cohort study; more responsive to short-term interventions

Optimal vs. Lab Range

Longevity Optimal

<0.90 (aging slower than average)

Target range for optimal health and longevity based on research.

Standard Lab

N/A — pace around 1.0 = aging at normal rate

Population-based reference range from standard labs.

Why It Matters

A pace near 1.0 means you are aging at roughly the average rate, above 1.0 means accelerated aging, and below about 0.90 means you are aging slower than average. Because DunedinPACE reflects the present speed of aging rather than accumulated damage, it is generally more responsive to short-term lifestyle changes than snapshot clocks like Horvath or PhenoAge, which makes it well suited to tracking whether an intervention is working. Where GrimAge is framed as a mortality predictor and PhenoAge draws on clinical biomarkers, DunedinPACE answers a different question: how quickly are you accumulating aging right now. It remains an emerging research tool rather than a diagnostic test.

When Low

N/A — slower pace is the goal

When High

Aging faster than 1 year per year; responsive to lifestyle changes, making it ideal for intervention tracking

How to Optimize

Because it is the clock most responsive to lifestyle interventions, the priorities are the fundamentals: regular exercise, prudent caloric restriction or metabolic optimization, consistent quality sleep, and stress management. Improvements in these areas can register as a slower measured pace over follow-up testing. Investigational or clinical agents such as rapamycin and senolytics are being studied in the longevity field but are experimental and should only be considered under physician direction. Biological-age testing is an emerging tool; interpretation and any interventions should be individualized with your physician; this content is educational and not a substitute for medical advice.

Key Interventions & Linked Compounds

Strong evidence

Key Interventions

Most responsive clock to lifestyle interventions: exercise

caloric restriction

sleep

stress management

Linked Compounds & Supplements

NMN

Resveratrol

Fisetin

Spermidine

Curated from clinical literature. Individual results vary; consult a qualified clinician before changing a protocol.

Ordering Notes

Specimen

Buccal swab or whole blood (EDTA)

Patient prep

No fasting required. Maintain usual diet and medications unless advised.

Recommended cadence

Semi-annual

Reporting unit

Confirm with the performing lab — units vary by region.

Pre-analytic notes

Standardize draw time of day, hydration, and recent exercise. Note any acute illness, supplements, or hormonal therapies on the requisition.

Recommended Follow-Up Actions

1
Confirm the result is reliable
Repeat abnormal values before acting — preferably from the same lab, same time of day, and under consistent prep. Rule out acute illness, recent intense exercise, or medication effects that can shift DunedinPACE.
2
Compare against optimal, not just lab range
Use the optimal window above as the target. Lab "normal" is built from the general population and often misses early dysfunction.
3
Pair with related markers
Order a complementary panel covering metabolic, inflammatory, and hormonal context to interpret this marker properly.
4
Discuss interventions with a clinician
Use the interpretation guidance above to frame the conversation. Bring trends, not just one datapoint, to your visit.
5
Re-test on a defined cadence
If a change is implemented, re-measure in 8–12 weeks for fast-moving markers, or 3–6 months for slower ones, to confirm response before escalating.