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New Metric: Intrinsic Capacity Predicts Healthspan
29 Aug
Summary
- Intrinsic capacity combines five functional areas into an aging metric.
- It aims to detect decline earlier and evaluate new therapies.
- Higher intrinsic capacity is linked to lower disability odds.
- ARPA-H is using this metric for faster therapy evaluation.
Longevity researchers are now focusing on a metric called intrinsic capacity, which combines five key areas: locomotion, cognition, psychological capacity, sensory capacity, and vitality. This approach reframes aging by assessing an individual's functional capabilities rather than just the presence of diseases. The World Health Organization defines these five areas, with measures including walking speed, grip strength, memory, hearing, vision, and mood.
Studies suggest that higher intrinsic capacity is linked to a reduced likelihood of disability, appearing as early as 14 years before death. This metric allows scientists to identify changes in capacity even in robust individuals, opening avenues for earlier interventions. Organizations like ARPA-H are centralizing intrinsic capacity within their programs, such as PROSPR, to expedite the evaluation of therapies intended to maintain health during aging, aiming for three-year assessments instead of decades.
While researchers are optimistic that improving intrinsic capacity may lead to longer life, definitive data is still pending. Intrinsic capacity is not yet a consumer-ready score and does not serve as proof for the efficacy of anti-aging drugs.
