Epigenetic aging and transposon dysregulation reflect size-related lifespan compression in dogs.

Larger and male dogs, which are shorter lived, exhibit accelerated epigenetic aging and transposon dysregulation, reflecting size-related lifespan compression in dogs.

• Why it matters: Understanding the biological mechanisms underlying lifespan variation in dogs can reveal insights into aging processes and potential targets for intervention.
• What they did: Using 1640 methylomes from 894 dogs, researchers developed an epigenetic clock that predicts mortality and analyzed age-related methylation changes, focusing on immune pathways and transposable elements.
• The result: Findings suggest that epigenetic aging correlates with lifespan differences, with transposable elements potentially mediating size-related lifespan effects, highlighting conserved aging signatures across species.