Quick Take on Intrinsic Capacity Testing: An Innovative Leap for Healthy Aging
Predicting Longevity: Could a Blood Test Reveal Insights into Your Aging Process?
What's the scoop? Scientists have developed a groundbreaking method for evaluating intrinsic capacity (IC), our overall physical and mental abilities, using just a drop of blood or saliva. This game-changing test could revolutionize the way we monitor and support successful aging.
So, what's the deal with intrinsic capacity? IC is your ability to walk, think, see, hear, and remember—essentially, it's the sum of all your physical and mental health capacities. Factors like diseases, injuries, and age-related changes can impact IC.
According to experts, maintaining a high IC is vital for healthy aging; but until recently, accurately measuring IC has been a costly and time-consuming affair, relying on fancy equipment and healthcare pros.
In a new study, researchers discovered that analyzing DNA methylation in blood samples successfully predicts IC and is associated with all-cause mortality. Essentially, a high IC score means a longer, healthier life!
Thomas M. Holland, MD and Assistant Professor at the RUSH Institute for Healthy Aging, sheds light on the DNAm IC test: "This test offers insights into how well your body is functioning compared to your chronological age, telling us not just how old you are but how well you are aging."
Elena Rolt, a Registered Nutritional Therapist, agrees, mentioning the DNAm IC test's potential as a practical measure of biological aging that could guide personalized interventions and strategies for healthy aging.
This blood or saliva-based test measures DNA methylation patterns, chemical tags that regulate gene activity, and compares them to your age-related decline in five areas: cognition, locomotion, sensory (vision and hearing), psychological health, and vitality.
Scientists found that a high DNAm IC is linked to various health benefits, including better lung function, faster walking speed, greater bone mineral density, and a positive self-perception of health. Those with the highest DNAm IC lived, on average, 5.5 years longer than those with the lowest scores!
But, how can we improve our IC? The study found that people with high dietary intake of oily fish and within-recommendations for sugar intake were more likely to have a high DNAm IC. Tunç Tiryaki, a board-certified plastic surgeon, explains the connection between these factors and IC: "Omega-3s, found in oily fish, have anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, and mitochondrial-supportive properties, while maintaining recommended sugar limits helps reduce chronic inflammation, insulin resistance, and accelerated aging."
To extend your healthy life years, healthcare and nutrition experts recommend following a healthy diet, such as the MIND or Mediterranean diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and practicing cognitive and social engagement. Managing stress and chronic diseases are also important for maintaining high IC.
Thomas M. Holland, MD emphasizes the DNAm IC test's potential for breaking new ground in functional aging science: "The DNAm IC link between molecular biology and real-world outcomes like mobility, cognition, and lifespan sets the stage for using personalized epigenetic markers to guide interventions in preventive geriatrics, longevity medicine, and precision public health."
In short, the DNAm IC test is an innovative, accessible, and noninvasive way to estimate one's intrinsic capacity and maintain a healthy, functional life as we age.
The DNAm IC test, based on analyzing DNA methylation in blood samples, could potentially revolutionize the evaluation of intrinsic capacity (IC), a crucial aspect of successful aging, offering insights into functional aging science. According to Thomas M. Holland, MD, this test provides information not just about one's age, but how well they are aging. High DNAm IC is linked to various health benefits such as better lung function, faster walking speed, greater bone mineral density, and a positive self-perception of health. To maintain a high DNAm IC, experts suggest following a healthy diet, such as the MIND or Mediterranean diet, engaging in regular physical activity, and managing stress and chronic diseases. This test, being noninvasive and accessible, could guide personalized interventions and strategies for healthy aging, making a significant contribution to the fields of preventive geriatrics, longevity medicine, and precision public health.
