# Biological organ ages associate with risk of chronic diseases in a community-based population

## TL;DR

This study shows that the biological age of organs, based on protein levels, can predict chronic disease risk better than chronological age.

## Contribution

The paper introduces a proteomic model to estimate organ-specific biological ages and links them to chronic disease outcomes.

## Key findings

- Older biological ages of arteries and hearts are associated with higher coronary heart disease risk.
- Patients with older organs have significantly higher risks for cancer, death, and other diseases.
- Proteomic organ aging signatures are strongly linked to multiple adverse health outcomes.

## Abstract

The biological age of organs may better quantify risk for health deterioration compared with chronological age. We investigated organ-specific aging patterns in a community-based cohort and assessed the associations with adverse health outcomes. Biological ages of 11 organs were estimated for 11,757 participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study (55.6% women, mean age, 57.1 years) using a circulating protein–based model. Older organ ages were significantly associated with related adverse outcomes, even after accounting for chronological age; for example, older arteries and hearts were associated with an increased risk for coronary heart disease (CHD; hazard ratio [HR] per 5-year-higher age gap, 1.22; 95% CI [1.13–1.31] and 1.16 [1.07–1.26], respectively, and older lungs with lung cancer (HR 1.12 [1.09–1.16]). Hierarchical agglomerative clustering based on organ ages revealed 3 patient phenotypes: those with older organs, normal/slightly older organs, and younger organs. The patients with older organs were at higher risk for cancer (HR 1.19; 95% CI [1.08–1.31]), death (HR 1.75 [1.64–1.86]), end-stage kidney disease (HR 6.12 [4.65–8.06]), CHD (HR 1.21 [1.06–1.38]), heart failure (HR 1.92 [1.73–2.13]), infection (HR 1.56 [1.44–1.68]), and stroke (HR 1.36 [1.16–1.61]). Proteomic organ aging signatures demonstrated significant associations with multiple adverse health outcomes and may be useful for health risk identification.

Organ ages, as estimated using levels of circulating proteins, are useful in predicting subsequent development of chronic disease.