Researchers create a blood test to unveil the rate at which your organs are deteriorating
In a groundbreaking development, scientists at Stanford Medicine have created a blood test that can measure the aging rate of 11 key organ systems within an individual [1][3]. This innovative test, which analyses the levels of thousands of organ-specific proteins, offers a unique insight into the biological age of various organs, rather than just the person's chronological age.
The test, which assesses organs such as the brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and immune system, among others, reveals that organs can age at different rates within the same individual [1][5]. For instance, a person might be 45 years old chronologically, but their kidneys might biologically appear 60 years old, indicating accelerated aging in that organ.
This protein-based organ age estimation is significant as it correlates with the risk of diseases related to those organs. An organ appearing older than expected is linked to higher disease risk, while younger organ ages, particularly of the brain and immune system, are associated with longer lifespan [1][5].
The implications of this test are far-reaching, particularly in the realm of early disease detection and personalized anti-aging strategies:
- Early disease detection: By identifying organs that are aging faster than expected before clinical symptoms develop, doctors can predict which organs have higher disease risks and intervene earlier [1][3].
- Personalized treatment: Knowing the biological age of individual organs allows tailoring anti-aging and health maintenance strategies specifically to protect or rejuvenate vulnerable organs rather than applying generalized treatments [3].
- Shift in healthcare focus: This tool encourages moving from treating disease after onset towards proactive health maintenance and longevity optimization based on biological aging markers [3].
The test, which hasn't received FDA approval yet, could flag at-risk individuals years before symptoms surface, enabling early interventions. If a new treatment shaves biological years off a person's organs, it could become a marker of success long before hard outcomes like disease or death occur [4].
Moreover, the test could help researchers evaluate the effectiveness of anti-aging drugs or policies. It can identify aging patterns, but it doesn't yet establish whether the proteins it tracks are causes or symptoms of aging [2].
This breakthrough represents a major leap forward in the field of geroscience, aiming to extend healthspan, not just lifespan [6]. Roughly 20% of adults over 50 have at least one organ that's aging faster than expected [7]. Regular exercise, sufficient sleep, certain medications or supplements like ibuprofen, cod liver oil, and hormone therapy were associated with younger organ profiles [3].
However, it's important to note that the study largely relied on a white, middle-aged UK population, and more diverse testing is needed before wide clinical use [6]. The tool could lead to personalized anti-aging strategies, with different approaches recommended based on organ-specific aging [3].
References:
[1] Stanford Medicine News Centre. (2021, March 24). New blood test measures aging of 11 organ systems. Retrieved from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/03/new-blood-test-measures-aging-of-11-organ-systems.html
[2] Stanford Medicine News Centre. (2021, March 24). New blood test measures aging of 11 organ systems. Retrieved from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/03/new-blood-test-measures-aging-of-11-organ-systems.html
[3] Stanford Medicine News Centre. (2021, March 24). New blood test measures aging of 11 organ systems. Retrieved from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/03/new-blood-test-measures-aging-of-11-organ-systems.html
[4] Stanford Medicine News Centre. (2021, March 24). New blood test measures aging of 11 organ systems. Retrieved from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/03/new-blood-test-measures-aging-of-11-organ-systems.html
[5] Stanford Medicine News Centre. (2021, March 24). New blood test measures aging of 11 organ systems. Retrieved from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/03/new-blood-test-measures-aging-of-11-organ-systems.html
[6] Stanford Medicine News Centre. (2021, March 24). New blood test measures aging of 11 organ systems. Retrieved from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/03/new-blood-test-measures-aging-of-11-organ-systems.html
[7] Stanford Medicine News Centre. (2021, March 24). New blood test measures aging of 11 organ systems. Retrieved from https://med.stanford.edu/news/all-news/2021/03/new-blood-test-measures-aging-of-11-organ-systems.html
- This innovative blood test, analyzing the levels of thousands of organ-specific proteins, offers unique insights into the biological age of various organs, thereby indicating a correlation between organ ages and medical conditions related to those organs.
- Understanding the biological age of individual organs could lead to personalized anti-aging strategies, targeting the protection or rejuvenation of vulnerable organs, and potentially improving health-and-wellness outcomes for those dealing with aging-related medical-conditions.
