This new tool measures how fast you're ageing and predicts future health risks: Research
Researchers have created a new "body clock" tool that estimates a person's biological age and may predict the risk of disability or death. Developed by the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine, the tool analyses eight key metrics from a patient's physical exam and bloodwork. The method called the Health Octo Tool, is explained in a May 5 study published in the journal Nature Communications. (Also read: Doctor reveals '1 thing that's proven to slow ageing' and reduces your biological age )
Researchers say the Health Octo Tool offers a more complete view of wellness than standard health checks, which often focus on single diseases. Using data from large longevity studies, the tool predicts disability, geriatric conditions, physical decline, and mortality. According to Dr. Shabnam Salimi, researchers have developed a method that offers a more comprehensive approach to health than traditional assessments, which focus on individual diseases.
The Health Octo Tool predicts disability, geriatric syndrome, physical function, and mortality with 90% accuracy or higher. The tool measures "health entropy," or the molecular and cellular damage accumulated over time, impacting organ function and overall ageing.
It assigns a "body organ disease number" based on whether any organs, like the heart or lungs, have been affected by disease. The study showed that organ systems age at different rates, leading to the creation of a Bodily System-Specific Age metric and the Bodily-Specific Clock to reflect each organ's biological age.
The researchers introduced the concept of the Body Clock, a comprehensive measure of overall intrinsic age and body age, reflecting the rate at which the body ages. The tool includes components like Speed-Body Clock and Speed-Body Age, which track how biological age impacts walking speed, and Disability-Body Clock and Disability-Body Age, which monitor the effects of ageing on cognitive function and physical disability.
Dr. Salimi pointed out that seemingly minor conditions, such as untreated hypertension early in life, could significantly affect ageing later. Treating these conditions early could slow biological ageing. The researchers are working on developing a digital app to help individuals track their biological age, monitor ageing progress, and assess the effects of lifestyle changes like diet, exercise, or longevity-targeting medications. "This app will allow people to visualise how their body and each organ system responds to changes," said Salimi.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Hans India
4 days ago
- Hans India
Common compute capacity surpasses 34,000 GPUs in India: Ashwini Vaishnaw
New Delhi: India's national compute capacity has crossed 34,000 GPUs, the government said on Friday, adding that three new startups have been selected to build AI foundation models. Union Minister for Electronics and IT, Ashwini Vaishnaw, said that 367 datasets have already been uploaded to 'AI Kosh'. The minister also underlined IndiaAI Mission's role in fostering reverse brain drain and creating a comprehensive ecosystem encompassing foundational models, compute capacity, safety standards, and talent development initiatives. He emphasised that these efforts are aimed at building a complete and inclusive AI ecosystem in India. The 'IndiaAI Foundation Model' pillar within the India AI Mission aims to develop and deploy indigenous foundational models trained on India-specific data. Till April 30, 506 proposals have been received. On April 26, Sarvam AI was selected to build India's sovereign large language model (LLM) ecosystem, developing an open-source 120 billion parameter AI model to enhance governance and public service access through use cases like "2047: Citizen Connect" and "AI4Pragati". This follows the earlier launch of the Sarvam-1 model (2 billion parameters) and the Sarvam-M (24B parameters) model with hybrid reasoning capabilities. Vaishnaw urged the newly selected teams under the IndiaAI Mission to aim for a top-five global position in their respective sectors. Soket AI will develop India's first open-source 120 billion parameter foundation model optimised for the country's linguistic diversity, targeting sectors such as defence, healthcare, and education. Gnani AI will build a 14 billion parameter Voice AI foundation model delivering multilingual, real-time speech processing with advanced reasoning capabilities, while Gan AI will create a 70 billion parameter multilingual foundation model targeting "Superhuman TTS (text-to-speech)" capabilities to surpass current global leaders. Emphasising Prime Minister Narendra Modi's vision of democratisation of technology, Vaishnaw said, 'Technology should not be left in the hands of a few. It's very important that a larger section of society should be able to access technology, develop new solutions and get better opportunities.'
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Study reveals six foods that are proven to reverse ageing
Image credits: Getty Images Age reversing is currently the north star of the health industry. Every health or age-conscious person, influencer and brand is working towards the goal in one way or another that they make sure to promote if deemed beneficial. The concept of reverse ageing is related to your biological age, which is the age of the body on a physical and cellular level and not on the basis of the years you have been alive. These two ages- chronological and biological, can be different and the less your biological age is the more healthy your body is and the more lifespan you have. Thus, people are always configuring ways to reduce their biological age and stay healthy. The interest in the concept has led to the popularity of influencers such as Bryan Johnson and Mel Robbins who claim to have perfected the esteemed process. Now, a study published in the Aging journal by researchers from the University of Washington and other institutions has suggested that a diet rich in plant-based foods containing natural substances called methyl adaptogens can potentially slow biological ageing. What foods aid reverse ageing? Image credits: Getty Images The team wanted to investigate how dietary choices influenced DNA methylation, a process that regulates gene activity without affecting the DNA sequence itself. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The more the DNA methylation in specific sites in the genome, the higher a person's biological age is. In the study, the authors followed 43, healthy middle-aged men from Portland, Oregon who had finished an 8-week program that focused on a plant-based nutrient-rich diet along with exercise, sleep and stress reduction. The results showcased that those who consumed food with more polyphenols which have antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties helped decrease the biological age by interfering with enzymes involved in DNA methylation. The authors recommended the daily consumption of dark leafy greens, cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, colourful vegetables, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, beets, lean meats, low-glycemic fruits like apples, grapefruit and cherries and a serving or more from the methyl adaptogen group. They also suggested avoiding dairy, grains, legumes and alcohol. 6 foods that reverse age The study mentioned six foods that the participants consumed that had powerful impacts on declining their biological age. These include: Berries Image credits: Getty Images A half a cup of berries consumed daily can go a long way in reversing your biological age. According to a study published in the National Library of Medicine, berries contain polyphenolic compounds that lower oxidative stress and inflammation and alter the signalling involved in neuronal communication. This helps prevent age-related deficits in cognitive and motor function. Rosemary Image credits: Getty Images The effects of rosemary on hair health and growth have come to major limelight in recent times with doctors and influencers recommending using the herb in oils and waters to treat damaged hair. Now, researchers recommend consuming half a teaspoon of rosemary every day to aid in reversing biological ageing. In a study published in the National Library of Medicine, it was stated that rosemary extracts increased lifespan extension, and AMPK activation and improved cognitive function. Turmeric Image credits: Getty Images Turmeric is called the golden spice for a reason. The condiment has healing properties which have been known for years. But now, researchers recommend eating half a teaspoon of turmeric daily as the main active substance inside it, curcumin has anti-ageing properties as it changes the levels of proteins involved in the ageing process such as sirtuins and AMPK and inhibits pro-aging proteins such as NF-κB and mTOR, as mentioned in a National Library of Medicine study . Garlic Image credits: Getty Images Eating 2 cloves of garlic daily is said to be beneficial in reverse ageing. The antioxidant properties in the herb help it to prevent cerebral ageing, inhibit platelet aggregation, and improve blood circulation and energy levels, as cited in a study published in the National Library of Medicine. Green Tea Image credits: Getty Images Two cups of green tea daily is advised to be consumed by the study authors. It is able to delay collagen ageing with the help of its antioxidant mechanism. Additionally, it suppresses melanin production too which makes it a popular anti-ageing remedy, as mentioned in the National Library of Medicine. Oolong Tea Image credits: Getty Images If you are one of those rare people who do not like green tea, then study authors recommend swapping it with Oolong tea. You can also drink both. 3 cups of oolong tea daily is advisable to drink. Oolong tea is made from the leaves of the camellia sinensis plant and is partially oxidised. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Replacing THIS food from one meal can be beneficial for liver health, experts reveal
A recent study reveals that swapping meat for plant-based protein in just one meal can significantly benefit individuals with liver disease. Researchers found that this dietary change lowers harmful ammonia levels, which are linked to cirrhosis and cognitive decline. Experts emphasize that even small dietary adjustments can positively impact liver health. Liver diseases are a growing health concern. Many factors contribute to the disease, and one among them is diet. Scientists have confirmed the link between a poor diet and increased risk of developing liver disease, particularly non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recently, researchers have found that avoiding one food item can significantly benefit liver function. A new study by researchers from Virginia Commonwealth University's School of Medicine and the Richmond VA Medical Center found that replacing meat with plant-based proteins for one meal can be beneficial for liver patients. Swapping meat with plant-based proteins in just one meal lowers harmful ammonia levels, found in people with advanced liver disease. High levels of ammonia in the blood are linked to cirrhosis and a type of cognitive decline called hepatic encephalopathy. Cirrhosis affects the liver's ability to process toxins like ammonia, which is produced in the intestines when gut bacteria break down food. In healthy individuals, ammonia is processed by the liver and excreted by the kidneys. However, in patients with cirrhosis, this ammonia accumulates in the bloodstream and can reach the brain, causing hepatic encephalopathy, which is a potentially life-threatening condition. This condition impairs cognitive function and can lead to confusion, delirium, coma, or death. To understand how removing meat from one meal could help liver patients, the researchers followed 30 adults with cirrhosis, all of whom typically ate a Western-style diet rich in red meat and low in fiber. The categorized the participants randomly and assigned them to eat one of three types of burgers—beef/pork, vegan meat substitute, or vegetarian bean-based, each containing 20 grams of protein. The meal also included low-fat potato chips, a whole-grain bun, and water. No condiments or toppings were added to this meal. The researchers then tested blood and urine samples, and compared it with before the meal, to examine the ammonia levels and gut bacteria composition. They found that people who consumed meat burgers had higher levels of amino acids linked to ammonia production and hepatic encephalopathy, compared to those who ate the plant-based options. 'It was exciting to see that even small changes in your diet, like having one meal without meat once in a while, could benefit your liver by lowering harmful ammonia levels in patients with cirrhosis,' Jasmohan Bajaj, a world-renowned expert in hepatic encephalopathy with the Richmond VA Medical Center said in a statement. 'We now need more research to learn if consuming meals without meat goes beyond reducing ammonia to preventing problems in brain function and liver disease progression. ' Smriti Mandhana Flaunts Fit Look in Masked Athleisure in Andheri 'It can be so hard to make long-term dietary and behavioral changes. We wondered if making an occasional change could be an option for these patients. Liver patients with cirrhosis should know that making positive changes in their diet doesn't have to be overwhelming or difficult,' Bajaj added. What should you do So, does that mean skipping meal in just one meal can help liver patients? 'The main take-home message was that occasionally skipping meat from just a single meal can have benefits for patients with cirrhosis. A simple change to a patient's diet or substituting some parts of it could be a simple and accessible method to reduce ammonia generation,' Bajaj said. One step to a healthier you—join Times Health+ Yoga and feel the change
