Androgens shape more than just male traits—they may also influence the pace of aging. A recent study found that an epigenetic predictor called the androgen clock can precisely track cumulative androgen exposure, offering new insights into how these hormones affect biological aging.

To develop this model, researchers analyzed DNA methylation, a chemical modification that regulates gene activity and changes with age. They studied male-specific DNA methylation patterns in sheep and mice, identifying genetic sites that gradually lost methylation in males while remaining stable in females. Using this pattern, they created a clock that accurately estimates androgen exposure and tested whether altering hormone levels could change its ticking rate.

They found that supplementing female mice with androgens accelerated the clock while removing androgens in male sheep through castration halted it altogether. The model estimated the duration of androgen exposure in both species with an accuracy of a few months, indicating that androgens directly influence epigenetic aging and can precisely regulate this process.

These findings indicate that the androgen clock may be an effective tool for investigating how sex hormones influence aging. Learn more about epigenetic aging in this episode featuring Dr. Steve Horvath, one of the investigators involved in this study.