- AIIMS Starts Study to Uncover Longevity Secrets Across Generations
New Delhi: The Department of Geriatric Medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) has launched a study to uncover the secrets of longevity. The research aims to identify aging patterns or biomarkers responsible for aging across multiple generations within a single family. According to the doctors, the initiative seeks to delve deeper into the mechanisms of aging, focusing on key factors that influence lifespan and quality of life in later years.
By meticulously analysing genetic, physiological, and environmental factors, researchers hope to illuminate the complexities of the aging process, paving the way for targeted interventions and personalised healthcare strategies.
Dr. Prasun Chatterjee, from the Department of Geriatric Medicine and the additional medical superintendent of the National Centre for Ageing, stated that the objective is to study the biomarker panel responsible for biological aging, assess the correlation between chronological and biological aging, and explore the role of the biomarker panel in predicting disease and mortality.
Dr. Chatterjee added that the next step would be to use the composite biomarker panel to categorize elderly cohorts into robust, pre-frail, and frail groups. These cohorts will be followed for 10 years and beyond to monitor hospitalization, functional decline, and mortality, thereby exploring their epigenetic clock (a biochemical test that measures age).
“Currently, there is no developmental milestone equivalent for the aging population to predict life expectancy, hospitalization, and mortality precisely. The biomarker panel in this study may help bridge this gap,” Dr. Chatterjee said, discussing future implications.
The project, funded by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), will last for 36 months.
As per the news published in TOI, Dr. Rashi Jain, a scientist in the Department of Geriatric Medicine, mentioned that the team is seeking families with members of all ages: teenagers (10-19), parents and middle-aged adults (40-59), grandparents (60-79), and even great-grandparents (80+). “At least 40 individuals will participate in each category,” she explained. “Participants will undergo advanced blood-based assessments, along with cognitive, functional, and nutritional evaluations. These assessments aim to provide a comprehensive understanding of their current and future health status. We will implement rigorous measures to ensure the privacy and confidentiality of all participants, with data managed according to strict ethical guidelines and regulatory standards.”
She further mentioned that families interested in participating or learning more about AIIMS Delhi’s research on aging can contact 9599556056, 9654936598, or email longevityproject.aiims@gmail.com.
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