iAge offers insights into how our bodies age, beyond simply counting birthdays. It measures “inflammatory age,” reflecting chronic inflammation’s impact on health and aging. This measure predicts health more accurately than chronological age, highlighting the immune system’s role in determining biological age.
Understanding iAge
iAge is a quantitative measure of biological age, distinct from chronological age (the number of years a person has been alive). Biological age reflects the physiological state of the body and its susceptibility to age-related decline. The iAge metric was developed by analyzing immune cell parameters, focusing on the “immunome”—the complete set of immune cells, proteins, and signaling molecules in the blood.
Researchers studied blood samples from over 1,000 individuals across various age groups and health statuses. Using artificial intelligence, researchers identified patterns and specific protein markers within the immune system that correlate with aging. One marker, the soluble chemokine CXCL9, was identified as a contributor to iAge, indicating its role in systemic chronic inflammation and age-related conditions. This analysis provides a more detailed picture of an individual’s internal aging processes.
iAge and Health Implications
iAge carries significant implications for health outcomes. A higher iAge relative to chronological age suggests an accelerated biological aging process, correlating with increased susceptibility to various age-related diseases. This includes cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s, and general frailty. Research shows iAge can predict the likelihood of developing multiple chronic diseases and frailty up to seven years in advance.
Conversely, a lower iAge than chronological age indicates a slower biological aging rate, associated with better overall health and increased longevity. Studies on centenarians reveal their iAge often averages around 40 years younger than their chronological age. One example, a 105-year-old man who had an iAge of 25, underscores the potential for a significant disconnect between chronological and biological age. This predictive capability offers a pathway for earlier detection of age-related issues and interventions before severe health complications arise.
Lifestyle Factors Affecting iAge
Numerous lifestyle and environmental factors are observed to influence an individual’s iAge. Diet plays a role, with certain eating habits potentially contributing to chronic inflammation, thus impacting iAge. Regular physical activity is generally associated with healthier aging, while a sedentary lifestyle may accelerate biological aging.
Stress and sleep quality also have observable effects on the immune system and, consequently, on iAge. Chronic stress can lead to sustained inflammatory responses, and insufficient or poor-quality sleep can disrupt immune function. Exposure to environmental toxins can similarly contribute to systemic inflammation. While genetic predispositions do influence how an individual ages, lifestyle choices offer a considerable opportunity to impact biological aging markers like iAge, potentially mitigating the effects of inflammation on overall health.