Plasma protein patterns linked to higher risk of age-related diseases

A study of plasma proteins identified organ-specific clocks that correlate with increased risk of multiple age-related conditions. The analysis examined roughly 7,000 proteins and linked the resulting patterns to higher rates of all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease, dementia, and several cancers.

The clocks also registered changes tied to lifestyle behaviors. Lower physical activity, smoking, and heavy alcohol consumption each corresponded with shifts in the protein signatures.

Study details Researchers conducted an independent replication of earlier work using Somascan technology. The approach measured protein levels across multiple organ systems to generate the clocks. The findings indicate that the protein patterns can reflect both disease risk and the influence of modifiable behaviors on biological aging processes.