Are our health and lifespan predetermined by our genes, or do we have a real influence over them? Dr. Dorota Komar answers this question. She is a distinguished researcher and head of the epigenetics research department at the Eurecat Technology Center in Catalonia.
In a conversation with Michał Wieczorek, she analyzes the impact of lifestyle on cognitive function and menopause, and discusses modern diagnostic tools that could revolutionize the early detection of disease. This is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand how everyday choices can “reprogram” the body for a long and healthy life.
Michał Wieczorek: Dorota, there can be no discussion about longevity without addressing the field you work in every day. Please tell us: what exactly is epigenetics, and why has it become so important?
Dorota Komar: The best place to start is with the fact that every cell in our body, at every stage of life, contains exactly the same DNA. And yet a skin cell looks and behaves completely differently from a liver cell. This is because a different set of genes is switched on and off in each of them. This shows that DNA alone is not enough for the body to function fully. Additional information is needed to determine which genes should be active at a given moment and which should remain inactive. Epigenetics is precisely this additional layer of information that indicates which genes should be active and which should not. It involves chemical modifications to the DNA itself or to proteins called histones. These modifications alter the physical and chemical properties of DNA and determine whether a specific cell can access certain genes at a given moment and whether it can use them.
I often hear the comparison that genetics is the hardware and epigenetics is the software. Would you agree?
That is a great analogy! You could say that epigenetics is like the “apps” installed on our smartphone. Personally, I really like comparing it to language: genetics is the dictionary containing every word that exists, while epigenetics is the set of grammatical and punctuation rules. These rules allow the same words to be arranged into completely different stories, enabling each cell to “tell” its own.
You study this scientifically in Barcelona, working on the changes that occur in the brain during aging. Which epigenetic mechanisms are most important in this process?
We know the most about DNA methylation. This is partly because it is the easiest process to study. All we need is DNA, and DNA is relatively easy to isolate. We can even obtain it from ancient dinosaur bones. Another process is histone acetylation, which usually promotes gene activity by loosening the chromatin structure. Imagine chromatin as thread wound around a spool. When it is tightly packed, the cell cannot access the genes hidden inside. Only when the structure loosens can the information be read. What is fascinating is that the cell nucleus is not a kind of “soup,” as we were taught at school. Instead, it resembles a precisely organized city with factories and districts where specific reactions take place. The way a gene is used depends on which structure inside the nucleus it reaches.
Does this mean that we can freely change the expression of our genes? Are these processes reversible?
Purely in theory, yes. Every epigenetic modification is reversible because enzymes exist that can remove methyl or acetyl groups. In practice, however, there are what we call “windows of sensitivity.” The greatest number of changes accumulate during the early stages of life. If a child developed in difficult conditions without proper care, certain negative epigenetic “marks” may be very difficult to reverse in adulthood. However, the later a particular change was “applied,” the easier it is to modify through lifestyle.
Since you mentioned lifestyle, how does what we do every day change our chemistry at the genetic level?
Everything that affects our metabolism also affects epigenetics. For example, physical activity produces beta hydroxybutyrate, a ketone body that directly influences enzymes responsible for modifying histones. Sleep is crucial because many epigenetic signals are applied during sleep. They fluctuate in line with the circadian rhythm. Diet also provides us with “building materials,” including methyl group donors.
Speaking of diet, can we eat something that will slow down aging?
At the beginning of this year, studies were published confirming that people who consume more methyl group donors age more slowly. We are talking about substances such as betaine, which is found in beets, as well as choline, methionine, and B vitamins. However, supplementation requires caution because the relationship follows a U shaped curve. Both insufficient and excessive methylation can be harmful. If we overdo it, we may unintentionally “silence” genes that protect us from cancer. For this reason, it is better to obtain these compounds through diet rather than supplements.
In the future, will we be able to determine our biological age and health status from a single drop of blood, as the famous Elizabeth Holmes once promised?
The Theranos case caused a great deal of harm, but the idea itself was not unrealistic. Even today, we can extract a vast amount of epigenetic information from a small amount of blood. I believe that within a few years, diagnostics based on DNA methylation signatures will make it possible to distinguish healthy people from those developing disease at a very early stage and will become a standard part of medicine. What is more, we are working on methods of painlessly collecting capillary blood from just beneath the epidermis, which will be a major relief for people who are afraid of needles.
That sounds like a breakthrough. Epigenetics gives us real hope that our health is, to a large extent, in our own hands.
We should remember that it is never too late to adopt a healthier lifestyle, although of course, the earlier we start, the better.
