A GROUND-BREAKING study has developed a blood-based ageing clock capable of predicting biological age and providing insights into the ageing process. Researchers analysed data from 2,562 mice, encompassing 12,010 observations of eight haematological variables and two metabolic indices collected over time. Utilising a deep neural network, the study identified blood age as significantly correlated with chronological age, while deviations between the two—referred to as the “ageing gap”—were linked to frailty and increased mortality risk.
Key findings include the identification of platelets as the most powerful predictor of biological age among the measured markers. This suggests that commonly collected haematological data can serve as a valuable tool in assessing the variability in ageing across individuals.
Unlike many molecular biomarkers of ageing that are challenging to implement clinically, this ageing clock relies on routine blood tests, making it a practical candidate for widespread adoption in healthcare. Such a tool could improve the understanding of age-related health risks, personalise treatments, and inform strategies to promote healthy ageing.
The research, which examined mice across three strains and both sexes, underscores the significance of accessible biomarkers in advancing geriatric medicine. Although the study was conducted in animals, its implications for human health are profound, setting the stage for future studies to explore its applicability in clinical settings.
This innovation represents a promising step towards the integration of biological clocks into routine healthcare, potentially revolutionising how ageing and associated risks are monitored and managed.
Helena Bradbury, EMJ
Reference
Martinez-Romero J et al. A hematology-based clock derived from the Study of Longitudinal Aging in Mice to estimate biological age. Nature Aging. 2024;4(12):1882-96.
