High suPAR is related to accelerated aging, study in the Journals of Gerontology shows

STUDY

Association Between Elevated suPAR, a New Biomarker of Inflammation, and Accelerated Aging

Methods

This study used data from the Dunedin Study, a population-representative 1972–1973 New Zealand birth cohort (n = 1037) that has observed participants to age 45 years. Plasma suPAR levels were analyzed at ages 38 and 45 years. We performed regression analyses adjusted for sex, smoking, C-reactive protein, and current health conditions.

Background

To understand and measure the association between chronic inflammation, aging, and age-related diseases, broadly applicable standard biomarkers of systemic chronic inflammation are needed. The study tested whether elevated blood levels of the chronic inflammation marker suPAR were associated with accelerated aging, lower functional capacity, and cognitive decline.

Of 997 still-living participants, 875 (88%) had plasma suPAR measured at age 45. Elevated suPAR was associated with accelerated pace of biological aging across multiple organ systems, older facial appearance, and with structural signs of older brain age. Moreover, participants with higher suPAR levels had greater decline in physical function and cognitive function from childhood to adulthood compared to those with lower suPAR levels. Finally, improvements in health habits between ages 38 and 45 were associated with less steep increases in suPAR levels over those years.

Conclusions

The findings provide support for the utility of suPAR in studying the role of chronic inflammation in accelerated aging and functional decline.