Scientists in Britain have developed a novel blood test that could provide clues to the ageing process and determine how long an individual may live.
In a recent publication in the International Journal of Epidemiology, the scientists say they have discovered key metabolites in the blood – described as chemical ‘fingerprints’ left behind as a result of early molecular changes before birth or in infancy – which not only could provide clues to health later in life but also pave the way for the development of therapies to treat age-related conditions.
Funded by the European Commission, Researchers from the Department of Twin Research at King’s College London, the research involves “metabolomic profiling” — the study of metabolites that specific cellular processes or changes leave behind in the blood. Analysing blood samples donated by over 6,000 twins, they identified 22 metabolites directly linked to chronological age — the concentrations of the metabolites were higher in older people than in younger people.
Their finding suggests that levels of this novel metabolite, which may be determined in the womb and affected by nutrition during development, could reflect accelerated aging in later adult life. The scientists say the findings show it is possible that these markers of aging can be identified with simple blood tests in the future, which may provide further clues to the aging process and could pave the way for development of therapies to treat agerelated conditions.
Study leader Professor Tim Spector and, Head of the Department of Twin Research at King’s College London, said: ‘Scientists have known for a long time that a person’s weight at the time of birth is an important determinant of health in middle and old age, and that people with low birth weight are more susceptible to age related diseases. So far the molecular mechanisms that link low birthweight to health or disease in old age had remained elusive, but this discovery has revealed one of the molecular pathways involved.’
One particular metabolite — C-glyTrp — is associated with a range of age-related traits such as lung function, bone mineral density, cholesterol and blood pressure. Its role in aging is completely novel. Crucially, researchers found it was also associated with lower weight at birth when they compared the birth weights of identical twins.
To explore the link between birth weight and the metabolite, the researchers showed via genetic tests that the gene influencing the levels could be modified “epigenetically” (whereby genes are switched on or off by chemical switches triggered by the person’s environment or lifestyle).
These epigenetic changes may then influence metabolism during a person’s lifetime, which in turn influences their risk of age-related diseases.
Ana Valdes, lead researcher from King’s, said that “human aging is a process influenced by genetic, lifestyle and environmental factors, but genes only explain a part of the story.
“Molecular changes that influence how we age over time are triggered by epigenetic changes. This study has for the first time used analysis of blood and epigenetic changes to identify a novel metabolite that has a link to birth weight and rate of aging,” she said.
“This unique metabolite, which is related to age and age-related diseases, was different in genetically identical twins that had very different weight at birth,” she said.
“This shows us that birth weight affects a molecular mechanism that alters this metabolite. This may help us understand how lower nutrition in the womb alters molecular pathways that result in faster aging and a higher risk of age-related diseases fifty years later.
“Understanding the molecular pathways involved in the aging process could ultimately pave the way for future therapies to treat age-related conditions. As these 22 metabolites linked to aging are detectable in the blood, we can now predict actual age from a blood sample pretty accurately and in the future this can be refined to potentially identify future rapid biological aging in individuals,” she further said.