© Karolina Grabowska
For the tests, the blood must be centrifuged.
October 24, 2024
Barbara Markert
The latest scientific research allows the determination of the biological age of individual organs. A new test can thus indicate possible diseases and pave the way for targeted preventive medicine.
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Growing old while staying as young as possible, living forever in the best of health – a dream as old as time. The reality, as we all know, often looks quite different. However, research from Stanford in the USA now shows that the fountain of youth is not a secret magical place, but lies within ourselves.
Specifically, in our blood. Professor Tony Wyss-Coray , an expert in neurodegeneration in aging, has shown that proteins in our blood plasma provide information about how we age and which organs, for example, can be triggers for premature aging.
"Most methods of measuring molecular aging previously allowed only statements about the whole body. Given the complexity of human aging processes, it is difficult to draw conclusions from this." The now possible, specific evaluation of individual organs allows for better interpretation.
The new study shows that a person's chronological age, measured by the number of years lived, can differ from the biological age of individual organs. For example, a person who is chronologically 80 years old could have a brain that is 10 years younger, or a liver that is actually like that of a 90-year-old. Brain or a liver that is actually like that of a 90-year-old.
The background data for such statements are found in our bloodstreams, which Professor Wyss-Coray likes to compare to a kind of highway, where all the information from the organs and tissues converge. On this human body's highway are thousands of proteins in the blood plasma, which are studied within proteomics. Blood plasma Thousands of proteins, which are studied within proteomics.
In Prof. Wyss-Coray's research, certain markers have crystallized in the measurement of around 5000 proteins, i.e., organ-specific proteins that provide information about the condition of a very specific organ, such as the liver, lungs, or brain.
"We found a clear connection between faster aging of an organ and an organ-specific disease." A heavily aged kidney can thus be associated with metabolic diseases, such as diabetes , obesity and . A , which is biologically older than the human being in which it beats, suggests an increased risk of heart attack.
A "brain-ager", a person whose brain ages faster, has a higher likelihood of developing a neurodegeneration such as Alzheimer's disease. Professor Tony Wyss-Coray summarizes: "Accelerated organ aging leads to a 20 to 50 percent higher risk of death."
Of the 100,000 patients tested for research purposes, about a fifth are only aging in one organ. This group is described by Professor Wyss-Coray as "one-organ-agers." However, almost two percent of the examined population are "multi-organ-agers."
"These individuals have aged extremely in at least five different organs. Our analyses clearly showed the major age-related diseases in this group."
Professor Tony Wyss-Coray is a neurologist and expert in neurodegeneration.
What do these findings have to do with a fountain of youth? Professor Wyss-Coray: "With just a small blood sample, we can predict mortality, organ-specific functional loss, disease risk, disease progression, and the heterogeneity of aging between tissues. This new technology shows us how we can take effective measures to extend the health span."
In other words, we obtain information about which parts of our bodies have malfunctions and should be repaired before more significant damage occurs. An example from the scientist's study illustrates how this works:
Within the research group, an outlier in the pancreas measurement was found in an otherwise healthy 30-year-old American. Upon inquiry, it was discovered that there are several cases of pancreatic cancer in the family history. "The patient decided to immediately undergo further tests in the clinic to take preventive measures."
With targeted medical treatments and medications, but also sports or dietary changes – that is, focused measures around the rapidly aging organ – we could maintain our overall health longer and delay aging. This is actually very good news.
The problem is that our health systems are not at all geared towards such preventive measures. Markus Okumus, a long-time partner of Professor Tony Wyss-Coray as well as co-founder and investor of the joint company "Teal Omics", whose goal is to further expand the research that has been started, explains:
"In traditional Chinese medicine, doctors were paid as long as you stayed healthy. If you got sick, you stopped paying because it meant the doctor hadn't done a good job. Our healthcare system is organized exactly the other way around."
It is very good at treating sick patients and making them healthy again. "But focusing on prevention or keeping a person healthy is not in the interest of this system. We would save a lot of costs in the long term if people stayed healthy for as long as possible."
To initiate changes here, we would have to say goodbye to the current thinking of pure cost reimbursement in the event of illness and significantly promote and finance preventive measures more strongly. Okumus: "It takes a change of consciousness that it is worthwhile to maintain health. And that personalized preventive diagnosis can achieve a lot. But I fear it may take a long time before we come to this understanding."
The research of proteins in the blood is still relatively new. What were the difficulties?
There are at least 20,000 unchanged proteins in the human body. Thanks to new technologies, about half of them can be measured today - around 11,000 proteins. We were not able to do this before. The measurements are complicated and expensive. Advances in artificial intelligence have allowed us to evaluate much more information from the blood.
Does that mean artificial intelligence (AI) made this research possible in the first place?
Yes, because we were able to process the extensive datasets with it. Imagine: 11,000 proteins are measured in the blood sample of a single person. In Professor Tony Wyss-Coray's study, the blood of almost 5000 patients was examined. In addition, ideally, several blood samples are taken from each patient over a certain period.
There come enormous masses of data together. Artificial intelligence acted like an accelerator in this case. The interpretation of this data also accelerated significantly with machine learning.
But the starting point is still a completely normal blood sample?
Exactly. We only need a little bit of blood. It is centrifuged, we get the blood plasma and can start with the tests. It is minimally invasive, which is quite remarkable given the research results.
It is important to know that, unlike DNA which is static, blood changes continuously. If you change your lifestyle, sleep more or less, eat differently, drink more or less water, it will affect your blood. It reacts to external influences or medications. We expect to be able to determine from the blood plasma test which measures are sensible for maintaining health.
Can you perhaps explain that with a concrete example?
For example, we know of a correlation between the heart and the brain. If a patient takes medication for their heart, it can also have a positive effect on other parts of the body - namely the brain. The more we understand such connections, the greater the potential to develop new treatment methods.
We can divide diseases like Alzheimer's or Parkinson's into different stages. When a patient is diagnosed with Alzheimer's, we try to find out how stable or unstable the disease will develop in the coming years. The goal can then be to find a drug that prolongs a stable phase.
On how many organs can you already recognize this premature aging today?
The biological age can now be identified for around 30 different organs, including the liver, brain, skin, pancreas, muscles, and so on. However, it's less about the absolute number or age as a figure, but more about an accelerated or slowed development of the organ compared to chronological age.
Is the test currently ready for use?
We can already offer the technology today and are already in talks with doctors from clinics in the premium segment. Currently, the costs are still very high. The test costs several thousand euros.
However, we hope that, similar to the price development of DNA analysis, it will become cheaper over time. A gene analysis once cost a fortune and is now available for 50 or 100 euros. However, I cannot predict when the blood plasma proteomics technology will be available to everyone. This also largely depends on who bears the costs.
At Teal Omics, we are also less concerned with selling the technology. We are more focused on research and want to learn more about the mechanisms of aging.
An important question is whether young, healthy people even want to know that they are, for example, a brain-ager and might develop Alzheimer's later?
This is, of course, an ethical question that everyone must answer for themselves. However, the fact is that longevity has been a human desire since at least the Romans. Right now, we are experiencing a real hype.
There are plenty of false miracle cures on the market that promise eternal youth. A clinical doctor in San Francisco confirmed to me that his patients are pumping all sorts of things into themselves out of fear of aging. They have no idea where the medication comes from, what it contains, whether it works, or even whether it's harmful to their health. Information and long-term studies are lacking.
The native Swiss Markus Okumus and Professor Tony Wyss-Coray have together founded the biotechnology company Teal Omics, which has developed a technology to better understand the mechanisms surrounding aging.
The goal is to reshape healthcare by developing new approaches to measure, monitor, and treat age-related diseases. Using proteomics, genomics, and artificial intelligence, novel biomarkers have been developed that enable precision medicine to prevent age-related diseases.
"We can now identify the biological age for around 30 different organs, including the liver, the brain, the skin, and the pancreas," says Markus Okumus, co-founder of the health start-up Teal Omics.
© Karolina Grabowska
Proteins in our blood plasma can provide insights into which organs may trigger premature aging.
