Scientists are developing increasingly better methods to determine people's biological age. Instead of just looking at the chronological number of years, so-called biological ageing clocks provide insight into how fast our bodies are truly ageing. These clocks use various data, such as DNA changes, protein levels in the blood and bodily functions, to get a picture of the health of organs and tissues.
The first generation of these clocks relied mainly on changes in DNA, while newer models also take into account information about muscles, brain function, and the immune system. Interestingly, different organs in our body often age at different rates. For example, brain age can be strongly correlated with the risk of Alzheimer's disease, whereas the immune system appears to be important for a long lifespan.
Although biological ageing clocks are not yet perfect and have limited use in the clinic, they have already yielded a great deal. They help researchers better understand how age-related diseases develop and which altered biological processes precede them. In addition, studies show that a healthy lifestyle, such as regular exercise, can have a beneficial effect on this biological age.
In the future, scientists hope such clocks can be used to measure the effect of anti-ageing treatments quickly and reliably. This would pave the way for targeted interventions that make staying healthy for longer possible. It is a promising tool not only to live to a greater age, but also to be healthier.
Source: Anna Drangowska-Way
