I used to be uncomfortable with the topic of aging. Is there anything we can do about the inevitable? However, I have recently immersed myself in a new wave of research on longevity that is making it a fascinating time to be an aging human — and we are all aging. It turns out that we all age at different rates. While super-agers may have good genes, research indicates that our habits and routines— including what we eat and how active we are, as well as who we spend time with—have a significant impact on how well we age.
Now, the next focus is to target the fundamental biology of aging and devise new strategies to slow it down. Many scientists are confident that we are on the verge of major breakthroughs. Not only to help us live longer, but more importantly, to extend the number of years we spend in good health. This is the objective of researchers at the Human Longevity Lab at the Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. They are recruiting individuals for studies in order to test different interventions that may reduce the rate of aging. Consequently, I decided to volunteer for this scientific research. Welcoming aging: My visit to the longevity lab Upon arrival, I had a quick blood draw. The Potocsnak Longevity Institute is situated on the bright and airy 21st floor of Northwestern Memorial Hospital, with a view of Lake Michigan. It felt more like a spa than a medical facility. I did not expect the extensive range of data and insights that scientists could extract from a series of tests. Over a four-hour period, they conducted more than two dozen assessments. Initially, it resembled an annual physical examination. They examined my blood pressure, weight, glucose, and cholesterol.
NPR’s Allison Aubrey’s body composition is measured inside a BodPod at the longevity lab, led by Dr. Douglas Vaughan.
Jane Greenhalgh/NPR
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NPR’s Allison Aubrey having her body composition measured inside a BodPod. Several other tests performed at the longevity lab — overseen by Dr. Douglas Vaughan — are used to estimate biological age.
Jane Greenhalgh/NPR
However, the tests became much more intriguing. In a small examination room, a medical assistant opened the hatch of a BodPod, a capsule resembling a submersible. The machine evaluated my body composition, determining the proportion of fatty mass to lean mass, which includes muscle. Muscle strength is a crucial indicator of healthy aging, as it helps protect against frailty and falls. Subsequently, I was asked to smell and identify a variety of distinct scents — from leather to chocolate — in order to assess my olfactory function. The loss of smell can be an early indication of disease and cognitive decline. They also examined my retinas and captured digital images of the inside of my eyes, which assist in identifying diseases. I also underwent a memory and cognitive function test, known as MOCA, and all results were healthy.
I then underwent a series of tests pertaining to cardiovascular health. They evaluated my endothelial function, which ensures smooth blood flow throughout the body. They also examined my heart rate variability and pulse-wave velocity, which is an indicator of artery stiffness. Electrodes were placed on my chest for an electrocardiogram. Halfway through, I began feeling somewhat nervous, and my mind raced with possible outcomes.
Of all the tests conducted, the most fascinating is the GrimAge test. This test predicts biological age by gauging whether a person’s DNA age is younger or older than their actual age, known as chronological age. Does the name GrimAge conjure thoughts of the Grim Reaper? Indeed, that’s the idea: the test estimates how fast or slow a person is aging. Researchers use a technique based on DNA methylation to determine this. DNA methylation is a measure of changes in our DNA. Essentially, as we age, compounds called methyl groups attach to some of our DNA molecules, which can activate or deactivate genes. Studies have demonstrated that the higher the proportion of methylated DNA in certain locations, the faster a person’s biological age. Published research suggests that this is a reliable method for predicting lifespan and health span. Is it possible to alter your biological age? It is not desirable to discover that one is aging faster than their peers, correct? However, the encouraging news is that our biological age is likely changeable. The hope is that through lifestyle changes, we can slow down our rate of aging. In the future, there may be anti-aging medications or other interventions. For researchers, the GrimAge test is not just a means of estimating DNA age; it is a tool for investigating whether interventions can modify it. “This is the underlying cause for optimism in all of this — the potential to slow down aging and extend the health span of people,” says Dr. Douglas Vaughan, the director of the Longevity Institute. Health span refers to the number of years we live in good health. “It can be altered very swiftly in experimental models and probably in people as well,” he adds.
For instance, smoking has a significant effect on methylation. “Tens of thousands of locations experience methylation when you smoke,” explains researcher Steven Horvath, who developed the epigenetic clock used as part of the GrimAge test. Individuals with obesity also exhibit higher methylation at specific locations. “Conversely, the consumption of vegetables, maintaining a lean physique, and engaging in physical exercise slows methylation age,” he explains. It has long been known that smoking and poor eating habits are detrimental to health. Nevertheless, researchers can now test specific interventions to ascertain whether it is feasible to effect a change. Vaughan’s keen interest in aging blossomed when he identified a distinct genetic variation in an Amish community in Indiana. Individuals with this variation are shielded from diabetes and have healthier cardiovascular systems compared to those who do not have it. In the laboratory, when Vaughan engineered mice to have only 50% of a protein linked to this mutation, their lifespan increased nearly fourfold. “This was a eureka moment,” he reflects.
Vaughan informs his medical students that throughout their careers, they will be prescribing interventions to slow down biological aging in their patients. “I cannot say for certain what that will entail. It could be a medication. It could be a lifestyle intervention, or it might even involve gene editing,” Vaughan suggests. “However, there will be methods to slow down this process and provide people with a longer health span.” Making aging accessible to all Inhabitants of the upscale Chicago neighborhood where the Human Longevity Lab is situated are likely to have a significantly longer and healthier life compared to those living just a few miles away. Vaughan is determined to help bridge this gap. “I am concerned about individuals in south Chicago whose life expectancy is 55, in contrast to 92 in the neighborhood where we currently stand,” he remarks. This represents a substantial discrepancy of more than 30 years. (You can check life expectancy in your ZIP code here.)
A multitude of factors contribute to this life expectancy disparity, including poverty, housing, stress, and crime, all of which can have a negative impact on health span. Vaughan and his colleagues are enrolling individuals from various age groups, ethnicities, neighborhoods, and socioeconomic backgrounds to determine what is effective in slowing down biological aging for everyone. “There are numerous individuals who have been dealt a poor hand with respect to aging,” Vaughan acknowledges. Their objective is to identify cost-effective, evidence-based interventions that can benefit everyone, irrespective of their socioeconomic status.
For example, there is interest in studying stress, which Vaughan suggests could be “part of the reason for the difference in life expectancy in different Chicago neighborhoods.” To investigate this, individuals’ biological age could be measured initially, they could then participate in a stress-reduction program, and their biological age could be retested to determine whether any changes have occurred. Vaughan is also interested in studying individuals with chronic HIV, who tend to age at an accelerated rate. A charitable donation from a Chicago family with a common interest contributed to the establishment of the institute. Vaughan’s team is considering a variety of interventions to ascertain whether they can slow down aging in this population. “It might involve weight training, intermittent fasting, dietary modifications, or currently available medications that may have anti-aging effects,” Vaughan proposes, citing the diabetes drug metformin.
Research on longevity and health span is attracting significant funding and attention from entities such as the Hevolution Foundation, which provides grants and invests in early-stage ventures, and Altos Labs, a biotechnology company established by Dr. Rick Klausner that is investigating strategies to reprogram or rejuvenate cells. Dozens of organizations have indicated their intention to participate in the $101 million X-PRIZE global competition focused on treatments that promote healthy longevity, encompassing everything from new medications or supplements to devices, and repurposing existing medications for new uses. “Teams must meet certain criteria, and we will establish the frameworks by which they can demonstrate the effectiveness of their treatment,” says XPRIZE’s Jamie Justice, who is also a researcher at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. Embracing the science of aging Fortunately, my GrimAge score was lower than my actual age, though I did receive some unexpected outcomes. I discovered that my body composition is not optimal. It appears that I need to develop more lean muscle mass, a common occurrence as we age—especially for women.
With muscle mass, if you do not use it, you lose it. Following the age of 30 to 35, muscle begins to diminish slowly, and this loss accelerates after the age of 65. Hence, it is never too early to begin building a reserve. My objective for this year is to increase muscle mass through resistance training and a proper diet. I also aim to reduce stress. My participation in the longevity study has inspired me to embark on a new project: How To Thrive As You Age. We will be presenting more stories on interventions for healthy aging soon. Share your aging strategies As part of this initiative, we encourage you to share your tips for healthy aging with us. What habits or tips have you adopted to thrive as you age? Please use this form to share your ideas or email us at Thrive@npr.org.
