Review examines biological clocks that track aging through blood proteins
A review by Eric Topol and a coauthor examines so-called biological clocks, which estimate the pace of aging from blood proteins, and links them to functional health, longevity and disease.
Source: Review Surveys Biological Clocks Tracking Aging From Blood Proteins (rdcu.be). Summary written with AI from the source and reviewed by rules; read the original.
What the research shows
The review, written by Eric Topol and a coauthor, surveys biological clocks, measures that try to estimate how fast a person is aging. These include organ clocks and cell clocks calculated from proteins found in the blood. According to the authors, these clocks can be linked to functional health, longevity and disease.
Because this is a review, it does not report a new study with its own participants; it summarizes and interprets research already published. The value of the field is in helping researchers measure a person's aging and understand its relation to disease. Still, these markers are an area of ongoing research, and it is too early to say how reliably they predict an individual's future.
What it means
The main takeaway is that the pace of aging may, in principle, be estimated from markers in the blood and related to health. What is still unclear is how accurate and useful these clocks are for individual decisions, and which interventions would change their results.
How to read it with care
This article does not replace a medical consultation. Do not draw personal conclusions about your health from biological clocks, and any change in diet, supplements or treatment should be discussed with a doctor or another qualified professional.