Somatic mutations identified in blood cells of healthy older adults was associated with an average of 4 years of accelerated biological aging.

Somatic mutations identified in blood cells of healthy older adults was associated with an average of 4 years of accelerated biological aging as measured by epigenetic age and up to 6.4 years of increased biological age with certain mutations.

Previously these somatic mutations in blood cells have been shown to cause age-related clonal hemopoiesis which is associated with an increased risk for blood cancers as well as non-hematological diseases, such as cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, and chronic ischemic heart failure.