According to many researchers, chronological aging is an imperfect marker of “biological” aging, defined as the loss of physiological integrity and function over time. At a biological level, aging results from the impact of the accumulation of a wide variety of molecular and cellular damage over time. This unfortunately leads to a gradual decrease in physical and mental capacity and a growing risk of disease. These changes are neither linear nor consistent and are only loosely associated with a person’s age in years. What if we could slow the aging process down and identify parts of the body that are aging quicker. Now we can predict blood proteins that predict aging.
During the past 30 years, several approaches, such as telomere length and epigenetic clocks have been used to identify cells that have aged more rapidly than others in an average person. An international team investigated whether blood proteomics (the study of proteins in a cell, tissue or organism and it’s application) could predict biologic aging. The team measured nearly 3000 blood proteins in 45,000 people in the UK. Levels of approximately 200 of these proteins collectively predicted biological aging.
Those people whose “proteomic age” was greater than their chronological age were those with:
- Shorter telomeres
- Declines in physical abilities such as hand grip strength, slow walking pace
- Age related decline in cognitive abilities such as reaction time
- Common age related diseases
- Earlier all-cause mortality
Identifying proteins linked to aging and age-related diseases theoretically could help in identifying treatments that slow aging.
These identified proteins with predictive value are involved primarily in inflammation as well as hormone regulation and neuronal function. The “proteomic clock” that was developed based on the UK population was validated in China and Finland. Identifying proteins linked to aging and age-related diseases theoretically could help in identifying treatments that slow aging. Tests of biological aging administered early in life might help “biologically older” people engage in healthier lifestyles.
References: Argentieri MA et al. Proteomic aging clock predicts mortality and risk of common age-related diseases in diverse population. Nat Med 2024 Sept; 30:2450.
World Health Association: Aging and Health, October 1 2024. who.int.