An evolutionary perspective of lifespan and epigenetic inheritance

In the last decade epigenetics has come to the fore as a discipline which is central to biogerontology. Age associated epigenetic changes are routinely linked with pathologies, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease; moreover, epigenetic clocks are capable of correlating biological age with chronological age in many species including humans. Recent intriguing empirical observations also suggest that inherited epigenetic effects could influence lifespan/longevity in a variety of organisms. If this is the case, an imperative exists to reconcile lifespan/longevity associated inherited epigenetic processes with the evolution of ageing. This review will critically evaluate inherited epigenetic effects from an evolutionary perspective. The overarching aim is to integrate the evidence which suggests epigenetic inheritance modulates lifespan/longevity with the main evolutionary theories of ageing.

Automated summary

In the last decade, epigenetics has become a central discipline in the field of biogerontology, as age-associated epigenetic changes are linked to various pathologies and epigenetic clocks can correlate biological age with chronological age. Recent empirical observations also suggest that inherited epigenetic effects could influence lifespan/longevity in different organisms. This review critically evaluates these effects from an evolutionary perspective, aiming to integrate the evidence with the main evolutionary theories of ageing.