How old are you? A typical response may be based on years lived, but a more detailed answer could come from cellular aging. Scientists have studied biological markers of age and disease to better predict the health status of individuals. This research aims to personalize treatment for a variety of conditions, ranging from heart failure to cancer. Now, a study in Nature Aging identifies processes that overlap with age-related inflammation, which the researchers call iAge.
After connecting with 1,001 children and adults, ages 8-96, researchers identified cellular characteristics associated with aging, disease, cardiovascular function, and frailty. They found one factor of biological age is based on levels of CXCL9, a protein released after the body responds to an immune threat or that’s present following chronic inflammation. When the researchers controlled for this protein in the lab by silencing it, they saw signs of cardiovascular aging and illness, like a hardening of the arteries and reduced cardiovascular output, diminish. Therefore, they note, this insight could help researchers study the effectiveness of targeting CXCL9 in therapies designed for conditions related to aging and cardiovascular dysfunction.
The study was supported by the NHLBI, the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, the National Institute on Aging, and the National Center for Research Resources.