Ageing Clocks: Gender, Organs Matter

Biological ageing is more complex than a single number, with new research indicating significant variations based on gender and specific organs. Chronological age, while fixed, does not reflect the diverse biological aging processes occurring within an individual. Scientists have developed advanced ageing clocks using blood proteins, metabolites, and MRI scans, training models separately for males and females.

This approach revealed that some aging aspects are sex-specific, while others are organ-specific, and many are shared. The findings suggest that our biological age is not a singular score but rather a collection of different aging paths for systems like the brain, immune, and metabolic functions. Genetic influences also show varied patterns across sexes and organs.

These biological ageing measures have been linked to later-developing diseases such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and type 2 diabetes. For individuals with mild cognitive impairment, older-appearing brains correlated with a higher likelihood of progressing to Alzheimer's disease. However, these clocks are still research tools, not definitive predictors of future health.