Are Your Organs Older Than You Are?
Aging is a natural part of life, bringing with it changes you might expect. Yet, you’ve likely noticed some peers who seem to defy time, looking far younger—or older—than their years. This difference often lies in the distinction between biological age and chronological age. While your chronological age is simply the number of years you’ve lived, your biological age reflects the health and vitality of your organs and systems. These can age more slowly, keeping you youthful, or faster, increasing your health risk and future chronic disease. Understanding and optimizing your biological age can be key to unlocking a healthier, more vibrant future, for your brain and overall health.
The Washington Post uncovered new research that explores this topic, which we’ll be diving into.
The Discovery of Biological Age
In recent years, researchers have leveraged tools known as "biological age clocks." These innovative clocks estimate biological age by analyzing patterns in blood and tissue samples collected from thousands of humans and animals across various ages. Biological age reflects how well or poorly your body’s organs are functioning relative to your chronological age, based on specific biomarkers. These biomarkers are identified through patterns of gene activity or protein levels that consistently correspond to certain age ranges.1
“If a 40-year-old’s gene activity matches that seen in most other 40-year-olds, for instance, that person would be biologically 40. But if his gene patterns more closely resemble those of a typical 30- or 50-year-old, he’d be considered biologically out of alignment with his birth age.”2 -Washington Post
Research also suggests that aging is not a uniform process and may vary between organs. Some organs age faster than others, potentially releasing biochemicals that accelerate aging in other parts of the body. This highlights how interconnected our health truly is. For example, heart health is closely tied to brain health. Other studies have shown genetic overlaps between heart structure and function and brain health outcomes suggest that problems in the heart—such as structural or functional issues—can increase the risk of brain abnormalities and diseases.3 Even if your brain appears to be aging more slowly than your heart, the faster aging of your heart can still negatively impact your brain’s function and longevity.
Your Brain’s Biological Age: Risks and Benefits
While understanding how different organs age is fascinating, The Washington Post highlighted the brain’s age as “most striking.”2
“People with extremely old brains relative to their biological age were 3.4 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease than everyone else, while, on the flip side, those with relatively youthful brains had 81 percent less risk of Alzheimer’s than people with brains the same age as them.”2, 4 -Washington Post
As organs age, they contribute more and more to the risk of health problems and early death. On the other hand, keeping certain systems, especially the brain, youthful can have a big impact on living a longer and healthier life and even reduce mortality risk.4
The Good News
It might feel unsettling to think that your organs could be biologically older than your actual age. The good news is that your organs’ biological age isn’t set in stone—it can be influenced by your lifestyle and diet, otherwise known as modifiable risk factors.4
Studies have shown that certain habits can accelerate aging, while others can help keep your organs youthful. For example, smoking, excessive alcohol, and eating processed meats are linked to faster aging across multiple organs. On the flip side, vigorous exercise and eating oily fish are associated with healthier, younger organs.4
Interestingly, women who experience early menopause often see accelerated aging across most of their organs, which aligns with the known health challenges of early menopause. However, estrogen treatments have been found to help preserve the youthfulness of the immune system, liver, and arteries, potentially reducing the aging effects of menopause and promoting longer survival.4
By making thoughtful lifestyle changes, you can take control of your organs’ biological age and support a healthier future.
The Mediterranean diet has long been linked to longevity, supporting the health of many organs. It’s particularly beneficial for the brain and heart, reducing the risk of various diseases and cancers, thanks to its anti-inflammatory nutrients and focus on cutting out foods high in fat and ultra-processed ingredients.5 Inspired by the principles of both the Mediterranean and MIND diets, we created RELEVATE to promote long-term brain health. RELEVATE contains 17 nutrients that are commonly lacking in the average diet, helping to fill the gaps necessary to keep your brain sharp and strong for years to come. Learn more and order here.
Explore the full Washington Post article by visiting here.
References
1. Schaum, N. et al. Ageing hallmarks exhibit organ-specific temporal signatures. Nature 2020 583:7817 583, 596–602 (2020).
2. Why your organs may be aging faster (or slower) than the rest of you - The Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2024/11/25/longevity-organ-aging-disease/?pwapi_token=eyJ0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJyZWFzb24iOiJnaWZ0IiwibmJmIjoxNzMyNTEwODAwLCJpc3MiOiJzdWJzY3JpcHRpb25zIiwiZXhwIjoxNzMzODkzMTk5LCJpYXQiOjE3MzI1MTA4MDAsImp0aSI6IjVjZTlkYzcxLTZlNzctNGY4NC1hMjE0LTBhNDQ5YjhlMzZkOSIsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOi8vd3d3Lndhc2hpbmd0b25wb3N0LmNvbS93ZWxsbmVzcy8yMDI0LzExLzI1L2xvbmdldml0eS1vcmdhbi1hZ2luZy1kaXNlYXNlLyJ9.HBFpFiM05FUXuPNQqG9cc_K5AFjZU_N8NaAhWbDTsqI.
3. Zhao, B. et al. Heart-brain connections: Phenotypic and genetic insights from magnetic resonance images. Science (1979) 380, (2023).
4. Oh, H. S.-H. et al. Plasma proteomics in the UK Biobank reveals youthful brains and immune systems promote healthspan and longevity. bioRxiv 2024.06.07.597771 (2024) doi:10.1101/2024.06.07.597771.
5. Martinez-Gonzalez, M. A. & Martin-Calvo, N. Mediterranean diet and life expectancy; beyond olive oil, fruits and vegetables. Curr Opin Clin Nutr Metab Care 19, 401 (2016).
