The Organ Ageing Insights : Stanford’s Revolutionary Blood Test

HOW BLOOD TESTS MAY INDICATE ORGAN AGEING

Just like a car undergoing an MOT, researchers at Stanford University suggest that a blood test could reveal the pace at which a person’s internal organs are ageing, offering insights into potential future organ failures.

RELATED ARTICLE Blood test shows if organs are ageing fast or slowly

The Stanford team claims the ability to monitor 11 major body organs, including the heart, brain, and lungs. In their study involving mostly middle-aged or older adults, approximately one in five reasonably healthy individuals aged 50 and above may have at least one organ ageing faster than the rest.

The researchers propose that identifying quickly ageing organs could present an opportunity for intervention and lifestyle changes. Recognizing organs in rapid decline might provide early indications of impending health issues, according to the findings published in the journal Nature.

The study indicates that having one or more organs ageing rapidly is associated with a higher risk of specific diseases and mortality over the next 15 years. Organs examined in the study include the brain, heart, liver, lungs, intestines, kidneys, fat, blood vessels, immune tissue, muscles, and pancreas.

The blood test analyzes thousands of proteins to detect variations in ageing rates among different organs. A machine-learning algorithm, trained on a large dataset of blood test results and patient information, is used to make predictions.

SIMILAR ARTICLE Organ aging signatures in the plasma proteome track health and disease

Dr. Tony Wyss-Coray, one of the researchers, explained that 18.4% of those aged 50 or older had at least one organ ageing significantly more rapidly than average, putting them at a heightened risk for diseases in that particular organ in the next 15 years.

The researchers have submitted the paperwork for patenting the test, though more studies are needed to validate its effectiveness in predicting organ age and health.

While the findings are promising, experts like Prof James Timmons from Queen Mary University of London emphasize the need for validation in a more diverse population. The potential for detecting early age-related disease biomarkers is still under discussion.

Dr. Wyss-Coray envisions that by monitoring organ health in apparently healthy individuals, the test could identify organs undergoing accelerated ageing, allowing for early intervention before illness strikes.

Despite the progress, experts like Prof Paul Sheils from Glasgow University stress the importance of considering the whole body for a comprehensive understanding of an individual’s health.

READ MORE RESEARCHED From SABCS: Surgical Insights and Genetic Frontiers in Breast Cancer

Caroline Abrahams from Age UK highlights the need for emotional and clinical support alongside potential test results, anticipating the importance of readiness and funding within the healthcare system.