Transplanted organs may adapt to recipient's biological age

Research suggests that transplanted organs may adapt their biological age to match that of the recipient. A Harvard study involving mice demonstrated that transplanted hearts tend to adopt the host's molecular age, as measured by epigenetic clocks. This indicates that the recipient's systemic environment—including hormones and chemical signals—plays a significant role in how an organ ages.

In clinical practice, donor age is not an absolute barrier to transplantation. Medical professionals at the Dr. C. I. Parhon Clinical Hospital in Iași, Romania, noted that kidneys from donors as old as 70 or 74 can be successfully used for transplants. While older organs may have a shorter functional lifespan, doctors emphasize that the health and function of the specific organ are more critical than the donor's chronological age.