By now, you already know that chronological age is different from biological age. This may explain why some older adults "feel" as if they're still in their early forties or fifties. However, there's really no way of measuring biological age until today.
A group of scientists from King's College London is able to identify the speed the body is aging through a blood test. By doing this exam, doctors may be able to predict more accurately the risk of developing dementia such as Alzheimer's disease or a brain disease before symptoms begin to appear.
The study, which is already published in Genome Biology, began with comparing over 50,000 gene activity markers among men between the ages of 25 and 65 years old. These are then referred to as signatures and the indicators to be used in determining the "youthfulness" of the body. The numbers were then brought down to 150.
From these markers, the team worked with the blood samples of 70-year-old Swedish men. They then used the markers to compare the RNA activity, and they were able to predict who among the group will die within the next few years, unless, of course, other fortuitous circumstances such as accidents happen.
The test, according to the team, can be beneficial for people who are 40 years old and above. One, it can be used to measure cognitive decline, one of the basic signs of dementia, as well as early stages of a brain disease, especially since there's a marked difference in RNA activity between healthy people and those with Alzheimer's.
It can also be used to assess organ transplant donation properly. The test may be able to determine the length of time the transplanted organ can be used until it starts to fail. On the other hand, healthy people, based on the tests, may be encouraged to participate in organ donation in case they meet an accident and die.
