Researchers are working on new tools called “body clock” tools that aim to measure people’s biological ages and even assess their risks of disability and mortality. A recent announcement from the University of Washington’s School of Medicine highlights a tool that utilizes eight different indicators, which include physical exams of patients and their companions, to produce results.
This innovative approach, officially named the Health Octo Tool, is discussed in a publication released on May 5 in Nature Communication. Researchers argue that this method provides a more holistic view of health compared to traditional assessments, which usually focus on specific diseases rather than overall well-being. Dr. Shabnam Salimi, the primary author and a physician scientist at UW, emphasizes this point.
The Health Octo Tool leverages data from large studies on longevity to predict various outcomes such as disability, geriatric syndrome, and mortality rates, boasting an accuracy rate above 90%. Salimi notes, “Aging-based frameworks offer a fresh pathway for identifying both biomarkers and treatment options that target aging across the body, rather than just addressing single diseases.”
This tool incorporates the concept of “health entropy,” which refers to the buildup of molecular and cellular damage accumulating over time and influences how a person ages. This, the researchers argue, can directly reflect the health of a person’s organs and overall body functionality.
The tool begins by assessing a range of 1-14 body organ diseases related to conditions impacting vital organs like the heart, lungs, or brain. Salimi points out that different organ systems tend to age at varied rates, leading to unique metrics that reflect aging in these systems—essentially creating a “body clock” specific to each organ.
The components of the tool, known as Speed Body Clock and Speed Body Age, analyze how biological aging correlates with walking speed. These elements also take into account how aging affects cognitive function and physical disability.
According to Salimi, the study revealed that addressing conditions like untreated hypertension early on could significantly slow biological aging. Looking forward, researchers are planning to create digital applications that would allow individuals to monitor their biological age and how lifestyle changes, such as diet and exercise, may impact their aging process.
Dr. Brett Osborn, a neurosurgeon and longevity expert not involved in the study, noted that while the tool presents an exciting framework for clinical applications based on accessible examinations and lab tests, it has its limitations. He highlighted that biological aging is influenced by many factors, making it a complex and non-linear process difficult to capture entirely.
Ultimately, Osborn suggests that these tools should be utilized to monitor trends over time rather than pinpoint an absolute biological age. He believes that tools like the Health Octo can assist in evaluating how individuals respond to interventions, including new exercise routines or dietary changes, thereby fostering lifelong health habits.
This study received support from a grant from the National Institutes of Health specifically from the National Institute on Aging.
