Background Biological aging estimators derived from DNA methylation data are heritable
and correlate with morbidity and mortality. Consequently, identification of genetic and
environmental contributors to the variation in these measures in populations has become a
major goal in the field. Results Leveraging DNA methylation and SNP data from more than
40,000 individuals, we identify 137 genome-wide significant loci, of which 113 are novel,
from genome-wide association study (GWAS) meta-analyses of four epigenetic clocks and …

Biological ageing estimators derived from DNA methylation (DNAm) data are heritable and
correlate with morbidity and mortality. Leveraging DNAm and SNP data from> 41,000
individuals, we identify 137 genome-wide significant loci (113 novel) from meta-analyses of
four epigenetic clocks and epigenetic surrogate markers for granulocyte proportions and
plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 levels, respectively. We report strong genetic correlations
with longevity and lifestyle factors such as smoking, education, and obesity. Significant …