Well-Known Researchers Discuss Personalized Aging Treatments

Evaluating genetic changes may require significant analysis.

As the understanding of aging mechanisms evolves, researchers are turning their attention to personalized treatments that leverage genetic and molecular insights. Recent findings indicate that multi-omics approaches and new benchmarks for aging, known as the hallmarks of aging, could hold the key to extending healthy lifespans.

The Evolution of Hallmarks of Aging

In the landmark publication by Dr. López-Otín and colleagues in 2013, nine primary hallmarks of aging were identified

1. These crucial features of biological aging provided researchers with a framework for understanding the aging process. In a more recent update published in 2023, three more hallmarks were added, increasing the total to fourteen:

• Changes to the extracellular matrix (ECM): These modifications are well-documented in aging studies.
• Psychosocial isolation: This factor serves as both a cause and consequence of age-related decline in health.

This expanded characterization highlights the complex interactions of these hallmarks and their intertwined nature.

Limitations and New Diagnostic Avenues

While the hallmarks of aging provide valuable insights, they also have limitations, particularly in their use as standalone diagnostic markers. The interdependent nature of these hallmarks necessitates a detailed analysis that incorporates -omics techniques. For example, assessing the effects of senescent cells and inflammatory responses requires comprehensive molecular evaluations.

To address these diagnostic challenges, the researchers suggest a shift towards genetic analysis. They argue that a focus on specific genes — termed gerogenes and gerosuppressors — may offer more reliable biomarkers for aging evaluation. These genetic markers display associations with aging and are implicated in its physiological effects:

Localized Aging and Ageotypes

The work also emphasizes the phenomenon of localized aging, where certain organs may age more rapidly than others, leading to increased mortality risks among otherwise healthy individuals. This finding underscores the necessity for personalized treatment approaches that acknowledge individual variances in aging.

Researchers introduced the concept of ageotypes — molecular patterns that reveal how a person ages. However, more work is needed to define these ageotypes clearly, and future AI-driven analyses may further illuminate this area.

Strategies for Precision Geromedicine

In pursuit of effective treatments for aging, the researchers recommended a three-pronged strategy for individualized care:

1. Implement a systems biology approach that integrates multi-omics technologies to recommend tailored treatments.
2. Proactively identify and address "premature aging" before clinical symptoms manifest.
3. Utilize biomarker analysis to detect specific health issues, such as cardiovascular disease or cancer, before they become critical.

This method contrasts with standard clinical practices by emphasizing comprehensive evaluations rather than isolated specialty treatments.

The Future of Aging Research

The combination of genetic analysis and multi-omics technologies represents a significant advancement in the field of geromedicine. As outlined by the researchers, a trial architecture incorporating these methodologies could set a standard for future investigations into aging treatments. Such studies would compare traditional medical practices with innovative, individualized care to quantify changes in aging biomarkers.

Adopting these comprehensive strategies could lead to a revolutionary shift in geriatric care, fundamentally altering how aging is perceived and treated in clinical settings.

References

[1] López-Otín, C., Blasco, M. A., Partridge, L., Serrano, M., & Kroemer, G. (2013). The hallmarks of aging. Cell, 153(6), 1194-1217.

[2] López-Otín, C., Blasco, M. A., Partridge, L., Serrano, M., & Kroemer, G. (2023). Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe. Cell, 186(2), 243-278.

[3] Mavrogonatou, E., Papadopoulou, A., Pratsinis, H., & Kletsas, D. (2023). Senescence-associated alterations in the extracellular matrix: deciphering their role in the regulation of cellular function. American Journal of Physiology-Cell Physiology, 325(3), C633-C647.

[4] López-Otín, C., & Kroemer, G. (2024). The missing hallmark of health: psychosocial adaptation. Cell Stress, 8, 21.

[5] López-Otín, C., Maier, A. B., & Kroemer, G. (2024). Gerogenes and gerosuppression: the pillars of precision geromedicine. Cell Research, 34(7), 463-466.

[6] Neel, J. V. (1962). Diabetes mellitus: a “thrifty” genotype rendered detrimental by “progress”? American Journal of Human Genetics, 14(4), 353.

[7] Gordon, L. B., Rothman, F. G., López-Otín, C., & Misteli, T. (2014). Progeria: a paradigm for translational medicine. Cell, 156(3), 400-407.

[8] Biomarkers of Aging Consortium, Herzog, C. M., Goeminne, L. J., Poganik, J. R., Barzilai, N., Belsky, D. W., … & Gladyshev, V. N. (2024). Challenges and recommendations for the translation of biomarkers of aging. Nature Aging, 4(10), 1372-1383.

[9] Oh, H. S. H., Rutledge, J., Nachun, D., Pálovics, R., Abiose, O., Moran-Losada, P., … & Wyss-Coray, T. (2023). Organ aging signatures in the plasma proteome track health and disease. Nature, 624(7990), 164-172.

[10] Ahadi, S., Zhou, W., Schüssler-Fiorenza Rose, S. M., Sailani, M. R., Contrepois, K., Avina, M., … & Snyder, M. (2020). Personal aging markers and ageotypes revealed by deep longitudinal profiling. Nature Medicine, 26(1), 83-90.