Knowing your ‘ageotype’ could add years to your life
Science has identified four distinct ways our bodies age. Paying extra attention to your biological ‘Achilles heel’ may be the key to staying healthier, longer.
The whole may be greater than the sum of its parts, but scientists are discovering that when it comes to our bodies, they’re only as young as their oldest organ.
Scientists at Stanford University School of Medicine identified four distinct ageing patterns in humans, dubbed ageotypes, having determined that organ systems age at different rates.
The study, which used a detailed method of analysis known as deep phenotyping to measure the biological markers of 43 healthy men and women periodically over a two-year period, classified four main ageotypes in humans – metabolic, immunologic, hepatic (liver) and nephrotic (kidney).
Since the study was published in 2020, further research into the different rates at which our body’s organs and systems decline has been conducted, reinforcing the idea of ageotypes as a potential tool in preventing the onset of age-related disease.
“We know already there are a handful of nice molecular and clinical markers, such as high cholesterol, that are more common in older populations,” professor Michael Snyder, a senior author of the study, said. The chair of genetics added there were limits to what could be learned about ageing from population averages alone. “What happens to an individual as they age? No one has ever looked at the same person in detail over time.”
What are the four Ageotypes?
Metabolic:
As we age, our ability to metabolise the nutrients in our food becomes less efficient. Poor metabolism has been linked to diseases such as type 2 diabetes, heart disease and obesity.
Immune:
A poorly functioning immune system can increase a person’s susceptibility to infection and illness, and has been associated with chronic inflammation and auto-immune conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis and psoriasis.
Nephrotic:
A decline in kidney function can reduce the organs ability to process and remove toxins, regulate blood pressure and produce vitamin D.
Hepatic:
A poorly functioning liver can result in a build-up of harmful toxins, and those with a dominant hepatic ageotype may have an increased chance in developing conditions such as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and cirrhosis.
Dr Adam Brown, whose Sydney clinic specialises in anti-ageing, said the classification could be a useful tool in identifying areas of a patient’s health which could require more attention.
“There were some limitations of the study; only 43 people were included, there was a narrow age range (between 34- 68 years), and it was only over a short period of two years,” he said.
But rather than just a labelling exercise, its application could provide the basis for preventive health plans and to help “identify risk factors for specific disease processes”.
“This might include medications, supplements, lifestyle modification (diet, exercise, alcohol, smoking etc), addressing emotional health & sleep,” Brown explained.