A recent study highlights that molecular aging varies significantly among individuals of the same chronological age. Julia El-Sayed Moustafa, a researcher at King’s College London, emphasizes the uniqueness of molecular aging for each person. Even twins born on the same day can experience different changes in gene activity and metabolite levels.
The study, published in the journal Science, challenges the idea of measuring aging through a single metric, such as “biological age.” It suggests that biological aging is more complex, resembling changing molecular trajectories rather than a static score. The research observed 335 women aged 32 to 80 over eight years, allowing scientists to track changes in gene activity and metabolites over time.
Of over 16,000 genes and 915 metabolites analyzed, significant changes were noted in 5,061 genes and 181 metabolites, with many linked to immune function and metabolism. While most participants showed similar trends, individual variations also occurred.
The research suggests that genetic factors, environmental influences, and daily biological rhythms shape these molecular changes. Seasonal and circadian variations were noted in gene and metabolite levels, indicating that aging is influenced by various external factors.
The findings underscore the need for more extensive and diverse studies to explore these trends further and could eventually lead to personalized assessments of aging. The researchers plan to extend the study’s duration to track molecular changes over 15 years in the future.
