Researchers have created a new "body clock" tool that estimates a person's biological age and may predict the risk of disability or death. Developed by the University of Washington (UW) School of Medicine, the tool analyses eight key metrics from a patient's physical exam and bloodwork. The method called the Health Octo Tool, is explained in a May 5 study published in the journal Nature Communications. 

A smarter way to measure ageing

Researchers say the Health Octo Tool offers a more complete view of wellness than standard health checks, which often focus on single diseases. Using data from large longevity studies, the tool predicts disability, geriatric conditions, physical decline, and mortality. According to Dr. Shabnam Salimi, researchers have developed a method that offers a more comprehensive approach to health than traditional assessments, which focus on individual diseases. 

The Health Octo Tool predicts disability, geriatric syndrome, physical function, and mortality with 90% accuracy or higher. The tool measures "health entropy," or the molecular and cellular damage accumulated over time, impacting organ function and overall ageing.

It assigns a "body organ disease number" based on whether any organs, like the heart or lungs, have been affected by disease. The study showed that organ systems age at different rates, leading to the creation of a Bodily System-Specific Age metric and the Bodily-Specific Clock to reflect each organ’s biological age.

How lifestyle choices can slow biological ageing

The Researchers presented the idea of the Body Clock, a thorough indicator of overall intrinsic age and body age, illustrating the pace at which the body ages. This tool encompasses elements such as Speed-Body Clock and Speed-Body Age, which measure how biological age influences walking speed, as well as Disability-Body Clock and Disability-Body Age, which observe the impact of ageing on cognitive abilities and physical disabilities.

Dr. Salimi noted that seemingly insignificant issues, like untreated hypertension early in life, could greatly influence ageing in the future. Addressing these issues sooner could help decelerate biological ageing. The researchers are in the process of creating a digital application to assist individuals in tracking their biological age, monitoring ageing advancements, and evaluating the effects of lifestyle modifications such as diet, exercise, or medications aimed at longevity. "This app will enable people to visualize how their body and every organ system reacts to changes," stated Salimi.

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