Most people know their age in years, but that number doesn’t tell the whole story. Our bodies don’t all age at the same rate.
One person’s heart might be aging faster than their brain, while someone else’s immune system might be slowing down faster than their lungs.
Many things can influence how our organs age, including our lifestyle, environment, and genetics.
Until now, tests that try to measure biological age usually gave just one number. That number might suggest how “old” your body seems based on blood and DNA markers, but it didn’t tell which organs were aging faster than others.
Now, scientists have developed a new blood test that can do just that. It’s called the Systems Age test, and it can measure how 11 different parts of your body are aging. This could help people—and their doctors—understand which organs need the most attention to stay healthy.
The research, published in *Nature Aging*, shows how the team built this new tool. They started by collecting health data from about 7,500 people, including their medical histories, blood test results, grip strength, and other physical information.
They looked at common blood markers like cholesterol and blood sugar and how these were linked to age-related diseases.
Next, they used artificial intelligence to analyze patterns in DNA methylation. DNA methylation is a natural process that changes how genes are turned on or off over time.
These changes can tell scientists a lot about how the body is aging. The researchers trained a computer program to connect these DNA patterns with signs of aging in specific organs and systems.
The result is the Systems Age test, which gives a separate biological age score for each of 11 body systems. These include the brain, heart, lungs, immune system, and metabolism. So instead of one overall age, you can now see which parts of your body are aging faster or slower.
To make sure their tool worked, the researchers tested it on blood samples from more than 8,000 people. They found that Systems Age was better at predicting health problems than older tests. For example, the heart score from the Systems Age test was more accurate at predicting heart disease than a single-number biological age.
The scientists also discovered that two people with the same overall Systems Age could have very different aging patterns. One person’s immune system might be aging quickly, while another’s lungs are wearing out faster. This shows the importance of looking at each system on its own.
According to Morgan Levine, one of the authors of the study, this new approach could help doctors provide more personalized care.
For example, if your immune system is aging faster than your other systems, your doctor might recommend ways to strengthen it. If your heart is aging faster, you might be advised to focus on heart-healthy habits or take medication to lower risk.
In the future, tests like Systems Age could help people stay healthier longer by giving them better insights into their bodies. It’s a big step toward more personalized and preventive healthcare.
The study is published in Nature Aging.
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