Harvard: These Substances in Plasma Associated with Longer Lifespans

News

Harvard: These Substances in Plasma Associated with Longer Lifespans

Harvard Scholars Discover That Higher Levels of These Substances in Plasma Are Associated with Longer Lifespans.

Between 2000 and 2016, the global average life expectancy increased by 5.5 years, marking the fastest rate of increase since the 1960s. This growth is attributed to various factors such as improved living standards, advancements in healthcare, and a significant reduction in smoking rates.

These factors have not only increased overall life expectancy but also made it increasingly common for people to live beyond the age of 80. However, the metabolic changes behind the aging process and mortality rates are not fully understood.

Recently, researchers from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health published a study in the journal “Nature Communications” titled “Plasma Metabolomic Profiles Associated with Mortality and Longevity in a Prospective Analysis of 13,512 Individuals.”

This study unveils the plasma metabolomic characteristics associated with mortality and longevity. Specifically, higher levels of dimethylguanosine, pseudouridine, acetylcytidine, 4-acetamidobutanoic acid, acetylarginine, and less unsaturated lipids are linked to an increased overall mortality rate and reduced likelihood of longevity. In contrast, L-serine and more unsaturated lipids are associated with a lower mortality rate and higher likelihood of longevity.

Harvard: These Substances in Plasma Associated with Longer Lifespans

The researchers included 11,634 participants in their study, primarily middle-aged white women, with an average age of 54.3±9.0 years and an average BMI of 25.7±4.9 kg/m2.

After long-term follow-up, it was observed that participants who died were typically older at the time of blood collection, were less likely to be female, and had a higher prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption compared to those who survived.

Conversely, participants with longer lifespans were more likely to be female, had a lower likelihood of smoking, and had lower alcohol intake.

Harvard: These Substances in Plasma Associated with Longer Lifespans

Subsequently, the researchers analyzed the metabolic data of the participants and found 75 metabolites positively correlated with overall mortality and 32 metabolites negatively correlated with it.

The metabolites most positively correlated with mortality included C16:1 cholesterol ester, dimethylguanosine, uracilpropionic acid, C16:0 ceramide, pseudouridine, 4-acetamidobutanoic acid, among others. The metabolites with the highest negative correlation with mortality included L-serine, C22:6 cholesterol ester, piperine, bilirubin, L-threonine, 4-hydroxy-3-methylphenylacetone, and several highly unsaturated aldehyde phospholipids.

Harvard: These Substances in Plasma Associated with Longer Lifespans

In summary, this study identifies a set of nucleosides, amino acids, and lipid analytes associated with mortality and longevity, including two novel metabolites related to cardiovascular mortality risk, 4-acetamidobutanoic acid, and C16:0 ceramide.

Furthermore, the study observes that the association between lipid subclasses and mortality depends on the number of double bonds, with more double bonds being protective and fewer being harmful.

These findings underscore the potential importance of certain metabolic markers and pathways in aging and disease and may pave the way for their incorporation into clinical and research settings.