Plasma Protein Models Predict 15-Year Disease Risk From 7,000 Proteins in 60,542 People
Updated
Updated · Nature.com · Jun 15
Plasma Protein Models Predict 15-Year Disease Risk From 7,000 Proteins in 60,542 People
3 articles · Updated · Nature.com · Jun 15
Summary
Using more than 7,000 plasma proteins from 60,542 people, researchers built machine-learning clocks for 40-plus cell types and found cell-specific biological aging predicted future disease and death over 15 years.
The models showed aging is highly uneven: 20%–25% of people had accelerated aging in one cell type, while 1%–3% showed acceleration across 10 or more cell types.
Risk signals were disease-specific. Extreme astrocyte aging tripled Alzheimer’s risk in APOE4 homozygotes versus normal astrocyte aging, while extreme skeletal myocyte aging carried a 12.7-fold higher ALS risk.
In smokers, extreme respiratory epithelial aging was linked to a 58% higher lung-cancer risk than smoking alone, and youthful immune or neuronal cell profiles were associated with better survival.
A polycellular aging risk score also stratified mortality across cohorts and proteomics platforms, suggesting a blood-based way to measure aging at cellular resolution.
Scientists can now pinpoint aging cells to predict Alzheimer's. How close are we to drugs that can stop it?
If your cells are aging faster than you are, can lifestyle changes actually reverse the clock on disease risk?
A new test reveals your cellular age and disease risk. But will this knowledge empower us or just fuel our anxiety?
Plasma Proteomic Aging Clocks: A New Era in Predicting Disease Risk and Advancing Precision Healthcare
Overview
In June 2026, landmark research transformed our understanding of aging and disease by using advanced plasma proteomics and machine learning. This breakthrough allows scientists to analyze proteins in the blood, providing a noninvasive and comprehensive view of how different parts of the body age. By mapping these intricate aging processes, researchers can now predict individual disease risk and mortality more accurately. Plasma proteomics stands out as a powerful, accessible alternative to traditional diagnostic methods, making large-scale health screening possible and opening new doors for personalized, proactive healthcare.