Trace Age Article For Free

The estimation of age from subadult remains can be accomplished through the assessment of the degree of dental development, dental eruption, long bone growth, and epiphyseal union. Adult age indicators reflect degenerative changes that occur with advancing age.

Gustafson's method for age determination from teeth is based on the evaluation of ground sections of teeth. Six age-associated parameters are evaluated in the ground section and are compared to a regression curve of age versus the age-associated changes.

The essential components of age estimation are the history, physical examination, X-rays of the hands, panorama films of the jaws, and, if indicated, a thin-slice CT of the medial clavicular epiphyses, provided that there is a legal basis for X-ray examinations without a medical indication.

Age determination can be performed based on developing dentition, growing skeleton or degenerative changes of the skeleton. For adults, age can be estimated using indicators involved in processes of bone resorption, deposition and remodelling.

Adult age estimation includes assessment of the pelvis (pubic symphysis and auricular surface of the ilium), sternal rib ends, cranial sutures, and other degenerative changes. New methods such as Transition Analysis have stimulated a shift from traditional stage-based age assessment to a component-based approach.

The Horvath clock is one of the most widely-used age clocks and uses DNA methylation data to calculate age (Horvath S, Genome Biology, 2013). DNA methylation is a type of epigenetic change that refers to the addition of specific groups called methyl groups onto DNA at specific sites.

The pubic symphysis is one of the most reliable areas of the skeleton for adult age estimation. Other methods include changes in the morphology of the auricular surface and the sternal rib end. Many aging standards are sex- and/or population-specific.

Not only does the size of the skull change as we age, the joints or fontanels between the bones change, becoming smaller with age. Check the skeleton's teeth or lack of teeth. If the skeleton has wisdom teeth, the person was past the age of 18. If there is significant bone loss, it indicates a more advanced age.