a day ago
Simple blood test could reveal your body's REAL age and how long you have left to live - would YOU take it?
It may sound like the premise of a science fiction film.
But, believe it or not, US and French scientists claim to have discovered a game-changing test that could help predict lifespan.
Intrinsic capacity (IC)—all the physical and mental capacities a person can draw on, including their ability to walk, think, see, hear and remember—has long been considered a good marker of healthy aging.
But until now, measuring IC has been considered a costly and time-consuming assessment of physical health.
Yet the researchers say a simple saliva or blood test could measure IC by monitoring DNA methylation patterns—chemical tags that regulate gene activity in the body—to estimate a person's biological age.
In a 10-year-long study, tracking more than 1,000 adults aged between 20 and 102-years-old, they developed IC scores for each based on five age-related risk factors—cognition, movement, vision and hearing, vitality and mental well-being.
They found those with high IC scores lived 5.5 years longer on average.
People with the highest IC scores had better lung function, faster walking speed, stronger bones and were more likely to view themselves as healthy.
Maria Branyas Morera, who was the oldest person in the world, celebrating her 117th birthday in March
A low IC was also significantly associated with an increased risk of death from age-related diseases, such as cardiovascular disease and stroke.
Professor Thomas Holland, from the RUSH institute for Healthy Aging, who was not involved in the study, said: 'A blood or saliva-based test for intrinsic capacity is a very promising tool in ageing science.'
'One of the most critical aspects is that this test can be done with a simple blood or saliva sample, making it accessible and noninvasive.
He also told Medical News Today: 'It tells us not just how old you are, but how well your aging, which is much more meaningful to help inform which interventions should be implemented, if any, to help prevent future health problems.
'This test doesn't just give a snapshot of your current state, it may also offer a glimpse into your future health.'
The researchers also looked at the relationship between diet and biological aging and found that those who ate oily fish such as salmon and mackerel, and limited their sugar intake, had higher IC scores.
Writing in the journal Nature Aging, they said: 'We found that individuals with higher IC consumed more beer and dark meat, fish like mackerel, salmon, sardines, bluefish and swordfish, but fewer calcium supplements.
'Consuming sugar at the recommended level was also associated with a higher IC.'
Dr Tunç Tiryaki, a board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of the London Regenerative Institute, who wasn't involved in the research, said: 'Oily fish are rich in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which have anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective properties.
'Conversely, excessive sugar intake is known to accelerate oxidative stress, insulin resistance and chronic inflammation, all of which impair IC.
'Staying within recommended sugar limits likely supports metabolic flexibility and reduces inflammatory burden, preserving cognitive and physical function.'
Dr Tiryaki also recommended regular physical exercise, including aerobic activity and strength training exercises, to keep the body young.
He also emphasized the importance of maintaining social connections and keeping the brain stimulated to ward-off age-related diseases.
