Ageing Faster

An international team of researchers from US, UK, Israel and New Zealand have found that some people are ageing faster than their normal age. The study was conducted in participants aged between 26 and 38 wherein researchers have identified factors that can determine whether people are ageing faster or slower than their peers.

For the research, scientists used 18 biomarkers to determine the biological age of 1000 people born between 1972 and 1973. These included measuring the Body Mass Index (BMI), white blood cell count, blood pressure, waist-to-hip ratio, liver function, functions of kidneys, lungs, metabolic, immune systems, HDL cholesterol, cardio-respiratory fitness, lung function, length of telomeres, dental health and condition of tiny blood vessels at the back of the eyes besides interviews. These biomarkers were measured in three stages – when participants were 26, 32 and 38 years old.

In the ensuing results it was found that most participants were ageing at the rate of one year per year, however, ageing was three times in other participants. The biological age of these participants differed from the age on their birth certificates.