Scientific research shifts focus to biological age and intrinsic capacity

Scientific research is increasingly focusing on biological age rather than chronological age to better understand and combat the aging process. Researchers are utilizing the concept of ‘intrinsic capacity,’ a framework introduced by the World Health Organization, which evaluates five key areas: cognition, sensory abilities, locomotion, vitality, and psychological state.

A study published in The Lancet Healthy Longevity highlights these parameters as essential for assessing how an individual is actually aging. In the United States, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) has launched the PROSPR program to accelerate research into therapies that can enhance resilience and mitigate the effects of aging.

Complementary research from the Yale School of Medicine, published in Nature Medicine, utilizes ‘epigenetic clocks’ to measure biological age. By analyzing DNA methylation patterns through blood tests, scientists can track how various interventions affect functional age. The Yale study, which aggregated data from 51 different anti-aging intervention studies, suggests that while diet and certain medical treatments can slow biological aging, the effectiveness of supplements remains less certain.