Researchers in the US have developed a simple blood test that estimates the biological age of specific organs, helping to predict potential health risks and diseases.
The research from Stanford University, California, highlights the potential for personalised medical treatments based on individual organ health.
Previous research indicated a variation in ageing in different organs within mice, and these findings have now been replicated in humans using computer models and human blood protein analysis.
Tony Wyss-Coray, the lead researcher, told the BBC: “18.4% of those aged 50 or older had at least one organ aging significantly more rapidly. And we found that these individuals are at heightened risk for disease in that particular organ in the next 15 years.”
He added that, to validate these results, published in Nature, his team will need larger human cohorts and new mice studies, to study more deeply the link between certain proteins in specific organ ageing.
This study on organ aging is fascinating. It reminds me of the rice purity test in a way—just as that test aims to assess one's "purity" across different aspects of life, this blood test seems to evaluate the aging of our various organs individually. I wonder if there's a "purity score" for organ health that could be determined from the results. Either way, the potential for personalized treatments based on this organ-specific aging data is really exciting.