The key to longevity: AIIMS researchers explore 12 hallmarks of healthy aging.
Dr Chatterjee says the study participants will be assessed for their cognitive behavior, functional capacity, physiological measures, and dietary assessments.
Researchers from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, have taken up a study to explore answers to pertinent questions regarding healthy aging, which include figuring out the key factors that drive the same and diving deeper into the signs of aging (apart from the visible indicators). The three-year-long research that has begun focuses on ‘longevity through finding the biomarkers of healthy aging.’ The researchers are studying 12 hallmarks of aging in a healthy manner.
In an interview with Happiest Health, the lead researcher of the study, Dr. Prasun Chatterjee, additional professor, department of geriatric medicine and director of the National Center for Aging, AIIMS, New Delhi, spoke about its aims and how it can help provide crucial insights into healthy aging.
1. What is the difference between calendar age and biological age?
Dr Chatterjee: The calendar age tells us how long we have existed on earth. On the other hand, biological age is the age of your body. It tells how old your body or cells are. It is characterized by progressive changes in the physiochemical properties of cells. Two people with the same calendar age might have different biological ages. It means their body is aging at a different rate.
2. Some older adults are healthier than youngsters. What plays a role in this regard? Is it a combination of genetics and lifestyle, or more than that?
Dr Chatterjee: It’s true. I have seen people aged over 90 working like those at 60. Multiple factors play a role in this matter, which include genetics, lifestyle, diet, environment, epigenetic factors (changes in gene expression), exercise pattern, socio-economic status, family and social well-being, psychological well-being, and clinical history.
3. Is it possible to reverse physiological aging and predict someone’s life expectancy?
Dr Chatterjee: Reversing physiological aging has been noticed in primates and some yeast and mouse models, where researchers have tried to reduce biological age through diet and exercise. However, in the case of humans, multiple studies are ongoing to prevent physiological aging. While the findings of these studies are not yet available, exercise has been proven to be one of the most important interventions that can prevent aging and age-related changes.
Similarly, restricting calorie intake has also shown positive effects toward increasing life span through multiple pathways, which include the nutrient-sensing pathway (linked to diet and aging) and the mTOR (the mammalian target of rapamycin) pathway, which serves as the central regulator of cell metabolism. Some drugs are also under clinical trials for their anti-aging benefits, including metformin and rapamycin.
In terms of predicting someone’s life expectancy, biological age can be predicted with AI-based deep learning methods developed from clinical parameters. DunedinPACE is one such method used to calculate the pace of aging.
4. You are spearheading one of the most ambitious projects on the biomarker panel responsible for biological aging. Tell us more about this study and how it can help our understanding of healthy aging.
Dr Chatterjee: Thank you. Ours is a first-of-its-kind study that aims to explore aging-related biomarkers and pathways in different age groups, spanning the entire course of their lives. This study will be conducted on 200 participants who will be assessed for their cognitive behavior, functional capacity, physiological measures, and dietary assessments. We will evaluate the aging biomarkers, telomere length (a complex hereditary trait and marker of biological aging), and epigenetic patterns of all participants. Our research will try to study 12 hallmarks of healthy aging. There will also be a follow-up after three years to gain insights into the speed of aging.
Although our study will focus on understanding the mechanism of aging, healthy aging can be understood by this research because we will also record the lifestyle patterns and dietary habits of our participants. Compiling all these details will help us know the primary factors responsible for healthy aging.
5. What are the biomarkers of aging that we fail to notice beyond the usual signs, which include a decline in energy levels, cognitive abilities, and metabolic functioning, along with skin wrinkling and gray hair?
Dr Chatterjee: The biomarkers that you mentioned are markers of physiological change or physical aging. However, we are studying the hallmarks of biological aging, which include biomarkers for genetic instability, cellular senescence (permanent growth arrest of a cell without cell death), stem cell exhaustion, and cell-to-cell communication.
6. In the Indian scenario, what are the common geriatric issues you notice and what are the major concerns?
Dr. Chatterjee: The primary geriatric issues are multi-morbidity, which refers to complications related to multiple organs like hypertension, diabetes, and coronary heart disease, along with age-related disorders such as frailty, falls and dementia, collectively called geriatric syndrome.
This combination significantly declines the quality of life in the aging population. A compromise in their ability to perform daily activities is another important concern. Dependency, resulting from physical, cognitive, physiological, or financial insecurity, is another major geriatric issue.
7. How can the public be a part of your project?
Dr Chatterjee: Participation from the public is highly desirable. For this project, we are recruiting families. Any family with three generations can participate in the study. It will just require a blood test and two hours of their time for some physical assessments. We will be thankful for their contribution to this important research. They can confirm their interest through email at longevityproject.aiims@gmail.com.
D.G.Shastri
Courtesy : happiesthealth.com