Clocking in on Aging: The IC Clock Revolution
Researchers have developed a novel method for estimating biological age, termed as the "ageing meter."
Get ready to rethink aging! A groundbreaking biomarker, dubbed the IC Clock, is here, assessing not just the age on your birth certificate, but your body's ability to cope with essential tasks that matter in healthy aging. This revolutionary tool is the brainchild of scientists hailing from the USA and France and has taken the world by storm, early findings published in the prestigious journal Nature Aging.
A new marker for functional aging
What makes the IC Clock so intriguing is that it doesn't stop at your age as indicated on your driver's license. Instead, it delves into intrinsic capacity (IC), a combination of six vital functions integral for active aging: mobility, cognitive abilities, mental health, vision, hearing, and nutrition. This revolutionary approach to aging was championed by the World Health Organization (WHO) and gained momentum, eventually being recognized as a distinct medical diagnosis in 2022.
The magic behind the IC Clock lies in DNA methylation, chemical changes in DNA strands that can be easily detected in blood or saliva. Already tested on thousands of participants in the French INSPIRE-T study and the American Framingham Heart Study, the IC Clock has demonstrated exceptional accuracy in predicting mortality risk and boasts ties with better immune function, lower inflammation levels, and healthy lifestyles.
"For senior citizens, it's all about maintaining daily functions, not just combating diseases," explains one of the creators, renowned Professor David Furman of the Buck Institute for Research on Aging. "We believe the IC Clock will empower doctors to prioritize quality of life."
The IC Clock, XPRIZE Healthspan, and the quest for a longer, healthier life
Be prepared to see the IC Clock in the spotlight, as it will be a key component in the prestigious international XPRIZE Healthspan competition. This star-studded event offers a massive $101 million prize fund, aiming to turn back the clock by rejuvenating muscle, cognitive, and immune function in individuals aged 50 to 80 by a staggering 10 to 20 years within a single year.
In this epic showdown, the IC Clock team will present an innovative intervention that includes ketone supplements, exercise, diet, and cognitive stimulation. The IC Clock will serve as the go-to tool for tracking results.
It's only the beginning for the IC Clock. As researchers continue to refine the tool, they envision a scalable, affordable, and universal device that can assess aging in individuals across the globe. In fact, they're even working on a blood drop-based version of the IC Clock, promising a more accessible testing method in developing countries.
Did you know that scientists recently discovered a universal law governing life on Earth?
The IC Clock, a groundbreaking biomarker that evaluates intrinsic capacity, encompassing factors like mental health, nutrition, mobility, cognitive abilities, vision, and hearing, has been recognized as a distinct medical diagnosis by the World Health Organization. This tool, championed by scientists from both the USA and France, employs DNA methylation for assessing an individual's risk of mortality and correlation with healthy lifestyles.
In the quest for a longer, healthier life, the IC Clock will be a critical component in the XPRIZE Healthspan competition, providing a universal and accessible means to measure aging across the globe. With promising interventions utilizing ketone supplements, exercise, diet, and cognitive stimulation, the IC Clock will serve as the primary tool for tracking results.
Researchers aim to refine the IC Clock into a scalable, affordable, and universally available device, eventually developing a blood drop-based version for testing in developing countries. This may open new possibilities for understanding and improving health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, medical-conditions, and mental-health issues in aging populations, bringing us one step closer to understanding the universal law governing life on Earth.
