Horvath Age Acceleration
Horvath age acceleration is the difference between Horvath DNAm age and chronological age, in years. A positive value means the methylation pattern looks older than the calendar says; a negative value, younger. Values within about ±3 years are within the clock's own noise.
Bands are the ones Orviva uses to colour a result; they come from the source publication's cohort and are not diagnostic thresholds.
What is Horvath Age Acceleration?
Horvath age acceleration is the difference between Horvath DNAm age and chronological age, in years. A positive value means the methylation pattern looks older than the calendar says; a negative value, younger. Values within about ±3 years are within the clock's own noise.
What does a high or low Horvath Age Acceleration mean?
A positive value means the methylation pattern reads older than chronological age; negative, younger. Values between -3 and 3 years are within the clock's noise and should not be over-read. Sustained positive acceleration beyond the noise band is associated with higher disease and mortality risk at the population level.
Which interventions have been shown to change Horvath Age Acceleration?
| Intervention | Duration | Mean change | Evidence | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Metformin | 12 months | -0.8 y (n=65) | moderate | Mohammed et al. 2021 Aging |
References
- Horvath 2013 — DNA methylation age of human tissues and cell types (Genome Biology) — https://doi.org/10.1186/gb-2013-14-10-r115
Upload an Illumina 450k / EPIC or WeGene methylation CSV → · Ask G2: “What is my Horvath Age Acceleration and how has it changed?”
Epigenetic clocks are research-grade estimates with a test-retest noise of several years. A single result is a snapshot, not a verdict; trends over repeated samples are what carry information. For general education only — not a diagnosis or a substitute for medical advice.