Key points from article :
Research published in The Lancet Digital Health suggests that ageing in individual organs can predict disease risk decades in advance. Led by Professor Mika Kivimäki from University College London (UCL), the study analysed blood samples from over 6,200 middle-aged adults to assess the biological age of nine organs. By tracking participants’ health for 20 years, researchers found that organs age at different rates within the same person, influencing their likelihood of developing various age-related diseases.
The findings showed that an ageing heart increased the risk of cardiovascular disease, while faster lung ageing was linked to respiratory conditions such as COPD and lung cancer. Surprisingly, those with an ageing immune system—not an ageing brain—had the highest risk of dementia, highlighting the role of inflammation in neurodegeneration. Kidney ageing was also strongly linked to multiple diseases, including type 2 diabetes and liver disease.
The study highlights the potential of advanced blood tests to identify early signs of organ ageing. With new proteomic (protein-based) technologies, thousands of blood proteins can be analysed simultaneously, providing personalised health insights. Researchers hope these tools will enable earlier, targeted interventions to help people stay healthier for longer.
