Decoding the Secrets of Slowing Down Aging: A Metabolic Perspective
Aging is a natural process that we all go through, but what if we could slow it down? A recent study has developed a new method to measure physiological aging, called PhysiAge. This method is based on five parameters that influence or reflect the aging process: daily step count, blood glucose levels, systolic blood pressure, sex, and age. Unlike our calendar age, which is simply the number of years we've lived, PhysiAge provides a more accurate prediction of mortality and other aging markers such as decrease in NAD+ levels, increase in oxidative stress, and decline in physical functioning.
The researchers used PhysiAge to study a group of older individuals and discovered a metabolic signature of decelerated aging. This signature included components of the TCA cycle, a key metabolic pathway in our cells, including malate, citrate, and isocitrate. These metabolites were found in higher abundance in individuals with slower aging, aligning with previous studies in model organisms.
In essence, PhysiAge offers an accessible way for people to track and potentially intervene in their aging trajectories. It also identifies a metabolic signature of decelerated aging in human blood plasma, which can be further studied for its role in human aging. This groundbreaking research opens up new possibilities for promoting healthy longevity and understanding the complex process of aging.
Article Information
A metabolomic signature of decelerated physiological aging in human plasma
Published on Geroscience. Georges E Janssens et al.
Abstract
The degenerative processes that occur during aging increase the risk of disease and impaired health. Meanwhile, interventions that target aging to promote healthy longevity are gaining interest, both academically and in the public. While nutritional and physical interventions exist, efficacy is often difficult to determine. It is therefore imperative that an aging score measuring the biological aging process is available to the wider public. However, simple, interpret, and accessible biological aging scores are lacking. Here, we developed PhysiAge, a physiological aging score based on five accessible parameters that have influence on or reflect the aging process: (1) average daily step count, (2) blood glucose, (3) systolic blood pressure, (4) sex, and (5) age. Here, we found that compared to calendar age alone, PhysiAge better predicts mortality, as well as established muscle aging markers such as decrease in NAD+ levels, increase in oxidative stress, and decline in physical functioning. In order to demonstrate the usefulness of PhysiAge in identifying relevant factors associated with decelerated aging, we calculated PhysiAges for a cohort of aged individuals and obtained mass spectrometry-based blood plasma metabolomic profiles for each individual. Here, we identified a metabolic signature of decelerated aging, which included components of the TCA cycle, including malate, citrate, and isocitrate. Higher abundance of these metabolites was associated with decelerated aging, in line with supplementation studies in model organisms. PhysiAge represents an accessible way for people to track and intervene in their aging trajectories, and identifies a metabolic signature of decelerated aging in human blood plasma, which can be further studied for its causal involvement in human aging.
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