Researchers are looking for better ways to measure people's biological age. Biological age indicates how the body functions and deteriorates with aging, which is important for assessing health and the risk of diseases. Until now, it has been difficult to determine quickly and reliably how quickly someone is truly getting older, which makes it more difficult to test new treatments that can slow down aging.
Recent research indicates that fat accumulation in muscle tissue is a promising biomarker of aging. As people age, the body accumulates more fat between and within the muscles. This fat accumulation, also known as myosteatosis, can provide insight into the quality of the muscles and the health of the body in general. Measuring it can help better determine biological age than some other methods, such as grip strength.
The advantage of this new approach is that it can be measured relatively accurately and objectively through imaging. This makes it possible to see more quickly how a person responds to treatment without years of observation. This way, researchers can more effectively and efficiently develop which therapies really contribute to slower aging.
For people who want to age healthily, this biomarker could eventually help in the early detection of muscle and health damage. This creates better opportunities to intervene early and positively influence the aging process. This contributes to a better quality of life as we age.
Source: Reason
