Faster Biological Aging Clock Linked to Weaker Body and Mind
Graded Moderate — followed 970 adults for three years; as an observational study with biological age measured only once, it shows links, not causes.
- Design
- Prospective cohort study
- Participants
- 970
- Duration
- 3 years
- Funding
- One author founded the company selling the inflammation clock test; another…
People whose DNA aging clock ran ahead had fewer physical and mental reserves, with mobility hit hardest.
Some people are biologically older than their birth certificate says. In a French study, these people had fewer physical and mental reserves. The gap grew wider with age, mainly in men.
Researchers followed 970 adults from the Toulouse area for about three years. At the start, they estimated biological age with so-called epigenetic clocks, which read chemical tags on DNA. Another clock used inflammation markers in the blood. Every year, the team tested memory and thinking, mobility, mood, grip strength, sight and hearing. People whose GrimAge DNA clock ran ten years ahead scored about 2.6 points lower on the overall scale at the start. This held even after accounting for other factors. Mobility was the area most affected.
The inflammation clock showed weaker links. Yet people who ran ahead on both clocks fared especially poorly. The study only observed people, so it cannot show cause and effect. Biological age was also measured just once, and most participants were White. One author founded the company that sells the inflammation clock test.
Conflict of Interest Disclosure: One author founded the company selling the inflammation clock test; another received fees from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
Disclaimer: Research summaries are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making changes to your health routine.