Genetic and Genomic Determinants of Healthy Aging: From Molecular Insights to Public Health Practice

Population aging is one of the defining public health challenges of the century, and understanding why individuals age at different rates and with different disease trajectories has become central to designing effective prevention and care strategies. Advances in genomics, high-throughput sequencing, and large-scale biobank studies have identified genetic variants, epigenetic markers, and polygenic risk scores associated with longevity, frailty, and age-related disease susceptibility. Yet translating these molecular discoveries into practical tools for risk assessment, early intervention, and policy remains a major gap between genomic science and public health practice.This Research Topic welcomes papers that examine the genetic and genomic underpinnings of healthy aging and their real-world public health applications. We invite contributions addressing, but not limited to:Identification and validation of genetic and genomic markers associated with healthy aging, longevity, and age-related disease risk (e.g., cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, cancer, metabolic disorders)Polygenic risk scores and their utility, validity, and limitations for population-level and individual aging-related risk stratificationGene-environment and gene-lifestyle interactions influencing aging trajectories, including diet, physical activity, socioeconomic exposure, and environmental toxicantsEpigenetic aging clocks, biomarkers of biological age, and their application in public health surveillanceHealth equity and disparities in genomic research on aging, including underrepresentation of diverse populations in aging cohortsEthical, legal, and social implications (ELSI) of genetic testing and risk disclosure in aging populationsTranslation of genomic findings into clinical guidelines, screening programs, and preventive interventions for aging-related conditionsPolicy frameworks for integrating genetic and genomic data into public health strategies, healthcare systems, and aging-in-place initiativesBehavioral and public health communication strategies for conveying genetic risk information to older adults and at-risk populationsComputational and bioinformatics approaches for integrating multi-omics data (genomics, transcriptomics, epigenomics) to model healthy aging Topic editors: Hiroto Narimatsu, Tsuneo Konta, Lei Feng Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/85909/genetic-and-genomic-determinants-of-healthy-aging-from-molecular-insights-to-public-health-practice