Longevity & AgingWhich Aging Biomarkers Best Predict Who Dies Early? A 16-Year Study Answers
Scientists tracked 861 older adults for 16 years to compare how well different aging biomarkers predicted death. Proteomic clocks estimating the biological age of organs like the liver, immune system, and heart were meaningfully linked to mortality risk. However, the epigenetic clock GrimAge2, brain volume measures, respiratory function, and cognitive scores performed equally well or better. Scanning nearly 10,000 blood proteins, the researchers also identified 368 proteins tied to mortality risk — with GDF15, WFDC2, and TIMP1 as the strongest individual signals. High-risk proteins were clustered around immune dysfunction, while protective proteins related to genomic stability. The study offers a rigorous head-to-head comparison of aging measurement tools, helping clarify which biomarkers deserve priority in longevity research and clinical practice.
