Distinct biological ages of organs and systems identified from a multi-omics study

Biological age (BA) has been proposed to evaluate the aging status instead of chronological age (CA). Our study shows evidence that there might be multiple clockswithin the whole-body system: systemic aging drivers/clocks overlaid with organ/tissue-specific counterparts. We utilize multi-omics data, including clinical tests, immune repertoire, targeted metabolomic molecules, gut microbiomes, physical fitness examinations, and facial skin examinations, to estimate the BA of different organs (e.g., liver, kidney) and systems (immune and metabolic system). The aging rates of organs/systems are diverse. People's aging patterns are different. We also demonstrate several applications of organs/systems BA in two independent datasets. Mortality predictions are compared among organs' BA in the dataset of the United States National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Polygenic risk score of BAs constructed in the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey cohort can predict the possibility of becoming centenarian.

Automated summary

This study proposes the concept of biological age (BA) to evaluate aging status instead of chronological age (CA). It finds that there might be multiple clocks within the whole-body system, including systemic aging drivers and organ/tissue-specific aging clocks. The study utilizes multi-omics data to estimate the BA of different organs and systems, and demonstrates the applications of BA in mortality predictions and predicting the possibility of becoming a centenarian.