Red Blood Cell Proteins Can Track Biological Aging and Predict Health a Decade Later
Graded Preliminary — proteomic clock built in 13,091 blood donors with up to 12 years of follow-up, yet it is an unreviewed preprint reporting associations only, with no test of whether acting on it helps.
- Design
- Cohort Study (Preprint)
- Participants
- 13,091
- Duration
- —
- Funding
- —
This study suggests red blood cell proteins could serve as accessible markers of biological aging.
Researchers built a protein-based aging clock from the red blood cells of over 13,000 blood donors. People with conditions like G6PD deficiency and sickle cell trait showed accelerated molecular aging. Iron supplementation appeared to reverse some of that acceleration. The molecular age scores predicted real-world outcomes like hemolysis and donor activity over a 12-year follow-up.
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.
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