International Conference on Biomedical Research

Associate Professor Gülsen Meral graduated from Istanbul University Cerrahpa?a School of Medicine in 1994. She became a specialist in paediatrics in 2001 . She is Associate Professor in Pediatrics and worked as a specialist as well as deputy chief physician and chief physician at several hospitals. She was the Rector’s advisor between 2019-2021 at the Northern Cyprus ITU. She is also an Acupuncture instructor. She worked as a Nutrigenetics graduate course and lecturer and gave undergraduate and graduate courses on child development. She has many national and international publications, and worked on editorial boards and as reviewers. She has a Master's Degree in Hospital Management. She has a Turkish language literature undergraduate education. She completed PhD program in Medical Genetics. In addition to her scientific achievements, she is ambitious about poetry and has 5 poetry books. She is the Founder of the Nutrigenetics and Epigenetics Association, and has memberships in the Green Crescent and Rumelia Association, Istanbul Acupuncture Association, and International Society of Nutrigenetics & Nutrigenomics. She participated in the first and second International Epigenetic Congress as the president. She is still the organizer and educator of the Epigenetic Coaching Program. She is actively giving trainings on Nutrigenetic & Epigenetic Counselling to health professionals from all over the World as a certified CPD program. She continues research and training as the founder and manager of Epigenetic Coaching.

How Epigenetics Can Help Slow Down the Aging Clock? : Epigenetics of Longevity

 

Epigenetic changes, particularly DNA methylation, are considered factors that accelerate or slow down the aging process and age-related diseases such as diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and dementia. The way DNA methylation and epigenetic modifications shape biological aging, independent of chronological age, is examined through molecular processes and one-carbon metabolism. One-carbon metabolism is a critical biochemical pathway that links nutrients such as folate and B vitamins (B12, B6, and B2) to DNA methylation. Common polymorphisms in genes involved in one-carbon metabolism (particularly MTHFR, MTR, MTRR, PEMT, TCNI, TCNII) lead to reduced enzyme activity and increased homocysteine levels, thereby affecting the methylation process. As awareness of the crucial role of epigenetic changes in aging increases, DNA methylation patterns have been used as a measure of biological age, known as the epigenetic clock. Various epigenetic clocks, including the Horvath clock, Hannum clock, DNA PhenoAge, and DNA GrimAge, have emerged as useful tools for managing healthy aging as a biomarker of aging. Lifestyle factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption, exercise, and diet influence DNA methylation, leading to changes in the epigenetic clock, which can either accelerate or slow down the biological aging process. Folate and related B vitamins, choline, and betaine, which are key cofactors in one-carbon metabolism, are factors that can modify epigenetic age. Methionine-restricted diets have also been proposed to prevent elevated homocysteine levels, a significant risk factor for age-related diseases. The most well-known dietary intervention with a proven epigenetic effect is calorie restriction. Vitamin D (calcitriol or 1,25(OH)2D3) interacts with the VDR/retinoic acid receptor, leading to the transcription of more than 3,000 genes in humans. Given the various diseases associated with vitamin D deficiency, which affects gene expression, its role in the process of healthy (biological) aging needs to be better understood. Like vitamin D, vitamin A is also important. Studies on reversing the epigenetic clock include dietary and lifestyle programs that support methylation, incorporating diet, sleep, exercise, relaxation guidance, complementary probiotics, and plant-based nutrients. These studies have explored the use of epigenetic clocks in predicting biological age and the role of a nutrigenetics-based epigenetic approach offered by personalized medicine in promoting healthy aging. Considering the influence of genetic variations and environmental factors on the aging process, epigenetic therapy approaches are believed to play a role in disease prevention and supporting healthy aging. Aging is an inevitable biological phenomenon, but this process can be delayed in humans through a healthy lifestyle.