Longitudinal Phenotypic Aging Metrics in the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging

Overview

Journal Nat Aging

Specialty Geriatrics

Date 2023 Mar 13

PMID 36910594

Authors

Pei-Lun Kuo

Jennifer A Schrack

Morgan E Levine

Michelle D Shardell

Eleanor M Simonsick

Chee W Chia

Ann Zenobia Moore

Toshiko Tanaka

Yang An

Ajoy Karikkineth

Majd Alghatrif

Palchamy Elango

Linda M Zukley

Josephine M Egan

Rafael de Cabo

Susan M Resnick

Luigi Ferrucci

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

To define metrics of phenotypic aging, it is essential to identify biological and environmental factors that influence the pace of aging. Previous attempts to develop aging metrics were hampered by cross-sectional designs and/or focused on younger populations. In the Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA), we collected longitudinally across the adult age range a comprehensive list of phenotypes within four domains (body composition, energetics, homeostatic mechanisms and neurodegeneration/neuroplasticity) and functional outcomes. We integrated individual deviations from population trajectories into a global longitudinal phenotypic metric of aging and demonstrate that accelerated longitudinal phenotypic aging is associated with faster physical and cognitive decline, faster accumulation of multimorbidity and shorter survival. These associations are more robust compared with the use of phenotypic and epigenetic measurements at a single time point. Estimation of these metrics required repeated measures of multiple phenotypes over time but may uniquely facilitate the identification of mechanisms driving phenotypic aging and subsequent age-related functional decline.

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