Blood test to Determine Organ Age for Predicting Disease Risk

Stanford University researchers have developed a breakthrough blood test that can determine the biological age of a person’s organs, according to a study published in the journal Nature Communications. The study found that individuals with organs aging faster than the rest of their body have a higher risk of developing diseases in those specific organs within 15 years.

The team of scientists used machine learning to assess protein levels in human blood. They focused on 11 organs, organ systems, or tissues, including the brain, heart, lung, kidney, liver, pancreas, intestine, immune system, muscle, fat, and vasculature. By analyzing protein levels in the blood of 1,398 healthy patients, they identified 858 organ-specific proteins that were key in predicting organ age.

Using these proteins, the researchers trained an algorithm that was able to estimate a person’s biological age and predict their risk for organ-related diseases. When testing the algorithm on 5,676 patients, they discovered that nearly 20% of the individuals had accelerated age in one organ, while 1.7% showed aging in multiple organs.

The study revealed that accelerated organ aging was associated with a higher mortality risk and could predict conditions such as heart failure and Alzheimer’s progression. This breakthrough finding could have significant implications for the early detection and treatment of diseases like Alzheimer’s. Additionally, it opens the door for the development of blood-based detection methods.

“We believe that monitoring the health of individual organs in healthy people could help identify accelerated organ aging and potentially treat individuals before they get sick,” said the lead researcher.

The researchers believe that blood tests for Alzheimer’s and other age-related diseases may become routine within the next five years. However, further research is still needed to validate and develop these tools for age-related diseases and dementia.

This groundbreaking study has great potential in revolutionizing healthcare by providing a non-invasive and accurate method for assessing the age and health of organs. With the ability to detect accelerated organ aging, doctors can intervene earlier and provide targeted treatments to prevent or delay the onset of age-related diseases. This research brings hope for a healthier future and a brighter outlook for those at risk of debilitating diseases.