Blood Aging Clocks Predict Reaching 90, Not a Sharp Mind
Graded Moderate — researchers followed 5,844 women into old age; this kind of observational data shows links rather than causes, and it comes from women only.
- Design
- Prospective cohort study
- Participants
- 5,844
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- National Institute on Aging; National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH)…
Women whose blood looked biologically older reached 90 less often, but the clocks could not tell who would stay mentally sharp.
Women whose blood looked biologically older than their birth date were less likely to live to 90. This held for all 15 epigenetic clocks the researchers tested. These clocks read chemical tags on DNA and use them to estimate a biological age. But none of them could tell which women would reach 90 with their thinking still intact.
The researchers analysed blood samples from 5,844 American women, taken in the late 1990s. Then they tracked who turned 90. Just under three in ten reached that age mentally sharp, and about one in six reached it with problems in memory and thinking. A little over four in ten died earlier. Newer clocks such as GrimAge and DunedinPACE showed the clearest link with survival. Even a clock built around mental abilities did not separate the two groups of 90-year-olds.
The study shows links, not causes. It included only women, so the finding still needs to be confirmed in men. The authors say clocks that can tell long life with and without good brain health apart are urgently needed.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: Two authors are named inventors on patents for epigenetic blood markers; one founded a foundation licensing them and worked at a rejuvenation company.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.