Progress in the study of aging marker criteria in human populations

Front Public Health. 2024 Jan 24:12:1305303. doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2024.1305303. eCollection 2024.

Abstract

The use of human aging markers, which are physiological, biochemical and molecular indicators of structural or functional degeneration associated with aging, is the fundamental basis of individualized aging assessments. Identifying methods for selecting markers has become a primary and vital aspect of aging research. However, there is no clear consensus or uniform principle on the criteria for screening aging markers. Therefore, we combine previous research from our center and summarize the criteria for screening aging markers in previous population studies, which are discussed in three aspects: functional perspective, operational implementation perspective and methodological perspective. Finally, an evaluation framework has been established, and the criteria are categorized into three levels based on their importance, which can help assess the extent to which a candidate biomarker may be feasible, valid, and useful for a specific use context.

Keywords: aging; aging markers; biological age; chronological age; human; marker.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Aging* / physiology
  • Biomarkers
  • Humans
  • Research Design*

Substances

  • Biomarkers

Grants and funding

The author(s) declare financial support was received for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article. This research was funded by the National Key Research and Development Program of China (2022YFC3602900, 2022YFC3602903, and 2022YFC3602902); the Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Province (Academician Chen Xiangmei of Hainan Province Kidney Diseases Team Innovation Center); the Specialized Scientific Program of the Innovation Platform for Academicians of Hainan Province (YSPTZX202026); the Specialized Scientific Research Project of Military Health Care (21BJZ37); the National Natural Science Foundation of China (82030025); and the Clinical Research Support Fund, Young Talent Project, Chinese PLA General Hospital (2019XXMBD-005 and 2019XXJSYX01).