A newfound blood biomarker may one day predict longevity

What’s Happening

Not gonna lie, Levels of six RNA molecules in the blood ID’d older adults likely to survive two more years.

Whether it will work for other people is a big question. News Health & Medicine A newfound blood biomarker may one day predict longevity Levels of six RNA molecules helped ID older adults most likely to survive two more years Researchers have found out that levels of certain RNA molecules in the blood may serve as aging biomarkers and predict survival, though the results need to be locked in. (it feels like chaos)

Andrew Brookes/Connect Images/ By Isha Ishtiaq at 11:00 am this: via email (Opens in new window) Email on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit on X (Opens in new window) X Print (Opens in new window) Print A handful of tiny molecules circulating in the blood may help identify which older adults are most likely to survive the next two years, researchers report February 24 in Aging Cell .

The Details

In a study of more than 1,200 people 71 and older, six small RNA molecules in the blood, called piRNAs, predicted short-term survival with up to 86 percent accuracy — better than using age, cholesterol, physical activity or more than 180 other standard health measures. For our We summarize the week’s scientific breakthroughs every Thursday.

“These RNAs are linked to survival,” and the analysis suggests they may also influence whether someone survives, says rheumatologist Virginia Byers Kraus of Duke University. PiRNAs, short for piwi-interacting RNAs , help regulate genes involved in development, tissue repair and immune function.

Why This Matters

Research in roundworms shows that reducing piRNAs can double life span , and though widely studied in animals , their role in human aging has remained unclear. Kraus and her colleagues collected blood samples from volunteers in a long-running North Carolina health study. The team analyzed 828 small RNAs, including piRNAs, in plasma, along with other health indicators from medical records, in-person physical and cognitive assessments and participants’ self-reported lifestyle data.

This could have implications for future research in this area.

The Bottom Line

The team analyzed 828 small RNAs, including piRNAs, in plasma, along with other health indicators from medical records, in-person physical and cognitive assessments and participants’ self-reported lifestyle data. The team identified nine piRNAs associated with healthy aging .

What do you think about all this?