Lucy Sinke | 07-05-2026 | Beyond the CpG: an integrative approach to decoding DNA methylation in immunometabolic health
Epigenetics as a key to healthier ageing
Why do we slow down, gain weight, and become more vulnerable to disease as we age? In her PhD thesis, Lucy Sinke investigated how a molecular mechanism called DNA methylation plays a central role in this process.
DNA methylation controls which genes are active in our cells. Unlike our genetic code, this mechanism is flexible: diet, physical activity, and ageing all leave their mark on it. Sinke examined how this mechanism influences immunometabolic health: the interplay between the immune system and metabolism, monitored through messenger molecules in the blood such as insulin, leptin, and IL-6.
Her research shows that immune cells adjust their gene activity when exposed to prolonged inflammatory signals. She also found that DNA methylation regulates the production of adiponectin, a hormone essential for healthy metabolism. Notably, these processes are not only visible in fat tissue but can also be tracked through signals in the blood.
One particularly encouraging finding: a healthier lifestyle, defined as more exercise and reduced calorie intake, demonstrably leads to changes in DNA methylation that correspond with improved health markers.
These results show that DNA methylation forms a dynamic link between lifestyle and disease, and open new avenues for interventions that support healthy ageing.