Researchers have developed a new technique to measure organ ageing using a simple blood test. Countless proteins circulate in the blood, secreted by various cell types in the body. By analysing these protein patterns, scientists can determine how well certain organs are functioning and how quickly they are ageing. This is done via special computer models that recognise patterns in these proteins.
An important part of ageing is the accumulation of so-called senescent cells. These are old cells that no longer divide, but do release harmful substances that cause inflammation and damage tissues. The new method attempts to determine the quantity of these cells in various organs based on the specific proteins they secrete.
Although this approach is still in its infancy, initial results show that it is possible to gain insight into organ health and the presence of harmful ageing processes using a blood test. This offers opportunities for faster and more targeted research into age-related diseases and new treatments.
For people who want to age healthily, this technique could help in the future to detect ageing-related problems at an early stage and thus choose the right lifestyle or therapy. Measuring ageing at the organ level is a step forward in personalised healthcare.
Source: Reason
