A global team of scientists has created a novel method to determine biological age, relying on gene activity. According to the researchers, this technique offers a more precise way to monitor aging processes and is linked to mortality risk and the onset of chronic ailments. The findings of this study have been published in the journal Nature.
While chronological age simply denotes the number of years a person has lived, biological age reflects the body’s condition and its rate of aging. To assess this, scientists frequently employ what are known as epigenetic clocks, which examine chemical modifications on DNA. However, these methods do not consistently perform to the same degree of accuracy across different organs or animal species.
The newly developed approach works by analyzing RNA – molecules that convey instructions from genes to the cellular machinery responsible for protein synthesis. By observing which genes are currently active, the researchers have devised what they call transcriptomic clocks of aging.
The scientists examined over 11,000 tissue samples from four mammalian species: humans, macaques, rats, and mice. This extensive analysis allowed for a comparison of aging processes within different organs and even across distinct animal species.
It was discovered that specific gene clusters accurately indicate an organism’s aging pace. For instance, heightened activity in genes associated with cell division, tissue repair, and wound healing correlated with slower biological aging. Conversely, increased activity in genes involved in inflammation and cell death suggested accelerated aging.
Building upon these observed patterns, the researchers have developed an algorithm capable of estimating biological age and predicting mortality risk. When analyzing human blood samples, this new system forecast life expectancy with accuracy comparable to the leading epigenetic clocks available today. Furthermore, the method effectively identified signs of accelerated aging in animals suffering from chronic conditions and in patients with various pathological issues.
The study’s authors believe this new tool could prove valuable in assessing the efficacy of prospective anti-aging treatments and different interventions aimed at slowing down the aging process. Instead of lengthy, multi-year studies, scientists could rapidly determine whether a particular therapy impacts biological age.
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