Researchers have devised a technique to assess the biological age of the brain, revealing it to be a key indicator of future health and longevity.
A recent study involved an analysis of blood samples from 45,000 adults, with protein levels measured in over 3,000 individuals. Many of these proteins correlate with particular organs, including the brain, enabling the estimation of each organ system’s “biological age.”
If an organ’s protein profile significantly deviated from its expected age (based on birthday count), it was categorized as either “very matured” or “very youthful.”
Among the various organs assessed, the brain emerged as the most significant predictor of health outcomes, according to the research.
“The brain is the gatekeeper of longevity,” stated Professor Tony Wyss-Coray, a senior author of the newly published research in Natural Medicine. “An older brain correlates with a higher mortality rate, while a younger brain suggests a longer life expectancy.”
Participants exhibiting a biologically aged brain were found to be 12 times more likely to receive an Alzheimer’s diagnosis within a decade compared to peers with biologically youthful brains.
Additionally, older brains increased the risk of death from any cause by 182% over a 15-year span, whereas youthful brains were linked to a 40% decrease in mortality.
Wyss-Coray emphasized that evaluating the brain and other organs through the lens of biological age marks the dawn of a new preventive medicine era.
“This represents the future of medicine,” he remarked. “Currently, patients visit doctors only when they experience pain, where doctors address what’s malfunctioning. We are transitioning from illness care to wellness care, aiming to intervene before organ-specific diseases arise.”
The team is in the process of commercializing this test, which is anticipated to be available within the next 2-3 years, starting with major organs like the brain, heart, and immune system.
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Source: www.sciencefocus.com
