Overview
- An Aging Cell study of Axiom-2 blood samples found average epigenetic age acceleration of 1.91 years by flight day 7.
- Post-landing estimates fell in all four astronauts, with older members returning to baseline and younger dropping below pre-flight levels.
- Investigators introduced an epigenetic age acceleration metric that integrates outputs from 32 DNA methylation clocks across pre-, in-, and post-flight draws.
- Shifts in immune cell populations—especially regulatory T cells and naive CD4 T cells—accounted for much of the signal, yet adjusted models still showed in-flight acceleration.
- Authors outline lab microgravity models and propose testing geroprotective candidates, while disclosing licensed IP to a spin-off and a co-founder role for senior author David Furman.