The glycan clock measures biological age by tracking modifications in glycans, particularly in immunoglobulin G (IgG). These changes reflect shifts in the immune system, making the glycan clock a valuable tool for personalized medicine and longevity research.

Key points:

  • IgG glycosylation reflects biological aging.
  • Shifts in glycome composition predict age-related changes and track disease progression.
  • Glycan-based biomarkers correlate with aging.

What is Glycan Aging?

Glycan aging refers to the gradual changes in glycan structures that regulate immune and cellular functions as we age.  A study from the University of Zagreb, led by Gordan Lauc, showed that glycan aging reflects genetic and environmental effects, offering an individualized understanding of aging.

Factors influencing glycan changes during aging include genetic predisposition, lifestyle choices, diet, stress, hormonal changes, inflammation, environmental factors, disease states, and medication use.

Like the glycan clock, other clocks, such as the proteomic aging clock, analyze biological markers like proteins to provide insights into aging and overall health.

What is the Glycan Clock?

The glycan clock measures changes in glycan structures over time to estimate biological age, reflecting shifts in immune function and overall health. It predicts aging outcomes by evaluating glycan patterns and informs personalized anti-aging interventions.

Unlike traditional chronological clocks, the glycan clock provides a more health-informative measure of biological age, capturing the effects of lifestyle, disease, and stress on aging.

How the glycan clock differs from other biological clocks:

  • Measures glycan structures to estimate biological age, whereas epigenetic clocks focus on DNA methylation.
  • Predicts aging outcomes with insights into immune health and inflammation.
  • Tailors anti-aging strategies based on individual glycan patterns.
  • Provides health predictions related to cardiovascular and metabolic risks.

While the glycan clock focuses on glycan structures, the metabolomic age clock estimates biological age by analyzing metabolite changes, providing another layer of understanding in age-related research.

Critical Components of the Glycan Clock

  1. Glycans: Carbohydrates that attach to proteins, forming glycoproteins.
  2. IgG: An important antibody that changes with age, reflecting immune function.
  3. Glycosylation: Adding glycans to proteins is essential for regulating immune responses.
  4. Analytical tools: Used to measure glycan profiles and assess biological age.

These components reflect immune function and inflammation as we age, offering insights into biological age and disease risks.

N-Linked Glycans

N-linked glycans are molecular structures that attach to proteins via asparagine. Their changes over time signal immune shifts and inflammation, key factors in aging. These glycans are considered essential biomarkers for biological age and age-related conditions.

Key types include:

  • High-Mannose: Involved in early protein formation, decreases with age.
  • Complex Glycans: Linked to inflammation and disease risk.
  • Hybrid Glycans: Associated with metabolic changes in aging.

N-Glycans

N-glycans are carbohydrate structures attached to proteins during glycosylation. They regulate protein folding and cell communication. Their dynamic nature allows them to adapt to environmental factors, making them essential in aging and immune response regulation.

N-Glycans’ role in cellular communication and aging: 

  • N-glycans regulate protein folding and stability for proper cellular function.
  • Altered N-glycan patterns lead to increased inflammation in aging.
  • Their adaptability influences cell growth and repair during metabolic changes.

Importance of Immunoglobulin G (IgG) in Glycan Alterations

Immunoglobulin G is a critical antibody in the immune system, and its glycosylation plays a crucial role in immune regulation. As we age, the glycosylation-related changes in IgG significantly affect immune function. Alterations in the glycan structures attached to IgG can increase inflammation, a significant factor in systemic aging. 

These changes reflect the body’s inflammatory state and serve as a longevity measure by indicating the rate of aging. Elevated levels of pro-inflammatory glycan forms in blood and serum are linked to immune system aging and contribute to age-related diseases. 

Studies on IgG glycosylation and aging:

  • A Leiden Longevity Study found that changes in IgG glycosylation levels in blood samples are closely related to aging ​(PLOS).
  • The Mendelian Randomization Study highlighted that IgG glycosylation indicates the rate of aging based on glycan data ​(MDPI) ​(SciEngine).
  • A study from the University of Zagreb further analyzed IgG glycosylation, demonstrating its role as a longevity measure ​(Oxford Academic).

GlycanAge – Biological Age Test

The GlycanAge test is a technology-driven biological age assessment that measures glycan pattern changes to estimate your biological age. The test correlates glycan changes with chronological age and offers insights into the body’s inflammatory state. It helps individuals and clinicians track health, monitor aging, and implement personalized anti-aging interventions. 

Methodology used in GlycanAge:

  • The test was created from large-scale human plasma and IgG glycomes studies using genetic and biochemical data.
  • You collect the necessary data for analysis with a simple finger-prick blood test.
  • High-throughput analytics identify changes in IgG glycan structures linked to aging. 
  • The test estimates biological age based on glycan patterns and offers insights into overall health. 

Glycan Biomarkers in Aging

Glycan biomarkers are sugar molecules attached to proteins. As we age, their structure shifts in ways that impact critical physiological processes. These changes provide a biomarker-driven way to track aging and determine biological age. By examining glycan profiles, researchers can reveal how our body is aging deeper, offering insights into long-term health outcomes. 

Key glycan biomarkers include:

  • IgG Glycans: Show how aging impacts immune function and inflammation.
  • N-Glycans: Help regulate cellular communication.
  • Sialylated Glycans: Diagnose inflammation.
  • Galactosylated Glycans: Link glycan changes to biological aging.

How Glycan Testing Works

Here are the five steps to conduct a glycan test:

  1. Collect a blood sample, typically using a simple finger-prick, for analysis.
  2. Using enzymes to separate sugar molecules from proteins makes them easier to analyze.
  3. Tag the glycans with fluorescent markers to improve visibility.
  4. Separate the labeled glycans using liquid chromatography (LC).
  5. Analyze the glycan profiles to determine biological age.

Advantages of glycan testing:

  • High Accuracy: Glycan testing provides exact results with solid consistency across samples.
  • Comprehensive: This test offers a comprehensive overview of how glycans change with age and their impact on health.
  • Biomarker-Driven Monitoring: It allows ongoing aging monitoring by tracking glycan patterns over time. 

How Do I Interpret Results from a Glycan Clock Test?

If your glycan age is lower than your actual age, you’re likely in good health with less inflammation. However, if your glycan age increases, it could point to faster aging or health risks like chronic inflammation. Regular testing can help track how lifestyle changes affect your biological age.

Example:

  • Chronological Age: 40 years | Glycan Age: 35 – Indicates good immune health.
  • Chronological Age: 40 years | Glycan Age: 45 – Points to potential inflammation or lifestyle factors accelerating aging.

If your glycan age exceeds your chronological age, you should explore methods to reverse biological age through targeted lifestyle changes and interventions.

Differences Between Epigenetic and Glycan Aging

Epigenetic aging tracks changes in DNA methylation that regulate genes, giving insights into gene expression over time.

On the other hand, Glycan aging measures glycan changes in proteins, comparing glycan-based age with chronological age to assess immune health. While epigenetic clocks focus on gene regulation, glycan clocks are more predictive of inflammation and disease risk. 

Unique aspects of glycan aging:

  • Compares glycan-based age with chronological age to monitor immune health.
  • Offers a predictive tool for chronic inflammation and disease risk.
  • Reflects glycan changes, providing insights beyond gene expression. 

Key Takeaways

  • Glycan biomarkers give you a clearer view of how your body is aging, allowing you to monitor essential changes in your immune health.
  • By looking at glycan patterns, you can better understand your risk for inflammation and diseases like heart problems or diabetes.
  • Use the insights from glycan testing to make personalized lifestyle changes to help slow aging and improve overall well-being.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Heritability of the Glycan Clock of Biological Age?

The heritability of the glycan clock is estimated at around 39%, with about 40% of glycan aging attributed to genetics. After adjusting for age, genetic influence rises to 71%, indicating a vital genetic component, though environmental factors also significantly impact how glycans change with age.

Who Founded the Glycan Age?

Professor Gordan Lauc founded GlycanAge in 2016 as a spin-off from Genos, a leading glycan analytics lab. Drawing on decades of glycobiology research, the company uses glycan biomarkers to assess biological age and provide personalized health interventions.

What is Glycan Made of?

Glycans are complex carbohydrates made up of sugar units (monosaccharides) linked together differently. These chains can vary in length and branching, creating a wide range of glycan structures. The main components of glycans include monosaccharides like glucose, galactose, and mannose.