Plasma-protein musculoskeletal biological age clocks built in 21,070 UK Biobank participants
Using 39 musculoskeletal-related proteins in 21,070 UK Biobank participants, researchers built two biological age clocks; accelerated scores were associated with mortality and musculoskeletal and age-related diseases, and the abstract reports environmental and genetic factors. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Two musculoskeletal aging clocks, MSKAge and MSKAgeMort, were developed from proteomic data of 21,070 UK Biobank participants using a pool of 39 musculoskeletal-related proteins. [1]
MSKAgeMortAccel showed significant associations with musculoskeletal disorders including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and low back pain. [1]
The abstract presents a framework for stratifying people at risk of accelerated musculoskeletal aging and for anti-aging interventions. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Proteomic clock construction and association study (abstract)
- Population / context
- 21,070 UK Biobank participants with proteomic data
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- August 1, 2026
Protein pool and two clocks in UK Biobank
The researchers first assembled a musculoskeletal protein pool from gene-expression enrichment, protein functional annotation and literature expertise; 39 proteins formed the pool. From proteomic data of 21,070 UK Biobank participants they developed two clocks, MSKAge and MSKAgeMort. Acceleration scores measured how far biological age deviated from chronological age, with positive values meaning accelerated musculoskeletal aging. Reported correlations were r = 0.62 in women and 0.56 in men for MSKAge, and 0.93 in women and 0.88 in men for MSKAgeMort.
Supporting source [1]
Accelerated scores linked to mortality and disease
Associations with mortality, musculoskeletal disorders and age-related diseases were assessed with Cox proportional hazards models. Both acceleration scores predicted these outcomes, especially MSKAgeMortAccel. MSKAgeMortAccel showed significant associations with musculoskeletal disorders including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and low back pain. Environmental and genetic determinants were examined by linear regression and genome-wide association analyses; MSKAgeMortAccel was influenced by environmental pollutants, psychological factors and unhealthy lifestyles, and genetic analyses revealed 13 variants and 71 genes. Zinc was named a candidate musculoskeletal drug. These are associations, not proof of cause.
Supporting source [1]
Abstract-only scope and proposed framework
The abstract describes a framework intended to stratify people at risk of accelerated musculoskeletal aging and to open the way for anti-aging interventions; this is a proposal, not a validated product. The abstract does not report follow-up length, how mortality was ascertained, effect sizes or confidence intervals, and the full text was not reviewed. The drug-repurposing result is a candidate finding, not evidence of benefit in people.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract does not report follow-up length, mortality ascertainment, effect sizes or confidence intervals. Findings are associations, and the drug-repurposing result is a candidate, not demonstrated human benefit.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Zhong Y, Xia M, Zhao X, Qu Y, Lei B, Zhen S, Han T, Xiang R, Xiao J, Song X, Ma X, Yang B, Zhang D, Zhou J, Chen Z, Pang Y, Ju Y, Liu T, Li Z, Long L, Zhang T, Li J, Fan M, Liu Z, Jiang X. · europepmc.org · August 1, 2026