ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science
No Result
View All Result
ZME Science

Home → Science

Researchers may have found a way to measure biological age with a simple urine test

Biological age is not the same as chronological age.

Elena MotivansbyElena Motivans
February 27, 2018
in Science
A A
Share on FacebookShare on TwitterSubmit to Reddit

Classmates born in the same year are the same age, but as they get older, the cells in their bodies age at different rates. Some in the same cohort may live very long, healthy lives, while others may have have age-associated diseases earlier on in life. It’s becoming increasingly clear that the aging process doesn’t always increase proportionally with age in years. Researchers discovered a marker that may be more indicative of the actual aging going on in our bodies and developed a simple urine test to measure it.

Humans age at different rates, and thus have different lifespans. Genetics, lifestyle, and environment are among the factors that affect this, influencing the amount of damage that cells build up. As we get older, our cells age build up damage until it leads to eventual death. Knowing our biological age could help to treat age-related disease and anticipate death. It could also allow us to better study how to slow down aging.

One way to measure aging is to look at the amount of oxidative damage that increases in cells over time. In this vein, the researchers developed a simple test to measure levels of oxidative damage in humans. A marker called 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (8-oxoGsn) results when RNA is oxidized. In animal studies, this marker increased with age in the urine.

Image credits: Pixabay.

“Oxygen by-products produced during normal metabolism can cause oxidative damage to biomolecules in cells, such as DNA and RNA,” explains Jian-Ping Cai, a researcher involved in the study. “As we age, we suffer increasing oxidative damage, and so the levels of oxidative markers increase in our body.”

Now, the researchers have tested this method on humans. They measured the levels of 8-oxoGsn in the urine samples of 1,228 Chinese aged 2-90. The levels increased in participants 21 and older. The test is quick to perform; it used ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography. Ten samples can be processed in one hour.

The marker levels were about the same in males and females. Only in post-menopausal women, were the levels higher. This could be because the onset of menopause is associated with a decrease in estrogen, which has antioxidant effects.

The first findings of this biomarker has interesting potential for further related research. For example, different lifestyle choices could be linked to different levels of the biomarker. Further tests are needed to confirm how accurate this test is, though such a test could be useful in health care.

Journal reference: Gan et al. 2018. Urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine as a potential biomarker in aging. Front. Aging Neurosci. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2018.00034 

RelatedPosts

Researchers find black hole that spins almost as fast as (we think) they can spin
Steroids cut COVID-19 death rates, but not for everyone – here’s who benefits and who doesn’t
Meet the magnetic superatoms
“Surgery in a pill” mimics weight loss benefits of gastric band or bypass surgery

ShareTweetShare
Elena Motivans

Elena Motivans

I've always liked the way that words can sound together. Combined with my love for nature (and biology background), I'm interested in diving deep into different topics- in the natural world even the most mundane is fascinating!

Related Posts

The 4,500-year-old elite Caral woman.
Archaeology

This Woman Who Lived 4,500 Years Ago in of Americas’ Oldest Civilizations Still Has Hair and Nails

byRupendra Brahambhatt
35 minutes ago
A BYD car.
Future

China is unbeatable when it comes to EVs. Here’s what Europe and the US can learn

byRupendra Brahambhatt
55 minutes ago
Environment

New Global River Map Is the First to Include River Bifurcations and Canals

byRebecca Owen
1 hour ago
Genetics

Scientists Blasted Human Cells With 5G Radiation and the Results Are In

byTibi Puiu
17 hours ago

Recent news

The 4,500-year-old elite Caral woman.

This Woman Who Lived 4,500 Years Ago in of Americas’ Oldest Civilizations Still Has Hair and Nails

May 16, 2025
A BYD car.

China is unbeatable when it comes to EVs. Here’s what Europe and the US can learn

May 16, 2025

New Global River Map Is the First to Include River Bifurcations and Canals

May 16, 2025
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Editorial Policy
  • Privacy Policy and Terms of Use
  • How we review products
  • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.

No Result
View All Result
  • Science News
  • Environment
  • Health
  • Space
  • Future
  • Features
    • Natural Sciences
    • Physics
      • Matter and Energy
      • Quantum Mechanics
      • Thermodynamics
    • Chemistry
      • Periodic Table
      • Applied Chemistry
      • Materials
      • Physical Chemistry
    • Biology
      • Anatomy
      • Biochemistry
      • Ecology
      • Genetics
      • Microbiology
      • Plants and Fungi
    • Geology and Paleontology
      • Planet Earth
      • Earth Dynamics
      • Rocks and Minerals
      • Volcanoes
      • Dinosaurs
      • Fossils
    • Animals
      • Mammals
      • Birds
      • Fish
      • Amphibians
      • Reptiles
      • Invertebrates
      • Pets
      • Conservation
      • Animal facts
    • Climate and Weather
      • Climate change
      • Weather and atmosphere
    • Health
      • Drugs
      • Diseases and Conditions
      • Human Body
      • Mind and Brain
      • Food and Nutrition
      • Wellness
    • History and Humanities
      • Anthropology
      • Archaeology
      • History
      • Economics
      • People
      • Sociology
    • Space & Astronomy
      • The Solar System
      • Sun
      • The Moon
      • Planets
      • Asteroids, meteors & comets
      • Astronomy
      • Astrophysics
      • Cosmology
      • Exoplanets & Alien Life
      • Spaceflight and Exploration
    • Technology
      • Computer Science & IT
      • Engineering
      • Inventions
      • Sustainability
      • Renewable Energy
      • Green Living
    • Culture
    • Resources
  • Videos
  • Reviews
  • About Us
    • About
    • The Team
    • Advertise
    • Contribute
    • Editorial policy
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact

© 2007-2025 ZME Science - Not exactly rocket science. All Rights Reserved.