Metabolomic ageing clock differences across nine mental disorder groups in UK Biobank
In UK Biobank, a plasma metabolomic ageing clock estimated an older metabolite-predicted age for substance use, psychotic, affective and neurotic disorders, but some disorders were linked to a younger biological age; associations differed by sex, age group and genetic liability. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
Among 225,212 UK Biobank participants, 38,524 had a mental disorder diagnosis preceding baseline. [1]
Substance use, psychotic, affective and neurotic disorders were associated with a metabolite-predicted age older than chronological age, largest for psychosis. [1]
Some disorders were linked to a younger biological age, and genetic liability diverged from clinical phenotypes. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Observational study using plasma metabolomic profiles and health-record/self-reported diagnoses (abstract)
- Population / context
- 225,212 UK Biobank participants (54% female; mean age 56.97), of whom 38,524 had a mental disorder diagnosis preceding baseline.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- June 22, 2026
Metabolomic clock in 225,212 UK Biobank participants
The abstract describes a study using plasma metabolomic profiles from UK Biobank participants. A metabolomic ageing clock (MileAge) estimated disorder-specific differences between metabolite-predicted and chronological age. Mental disorders came from health records and self-reported physician diagnoses. The analysis covered nine diagnostic groups and 45 individual disorders and examined sex and age group differences and associations with polygenic scores. Among 225,212 participants (54% female; mean age 56.97), 38,524 had a diagnosis preceding baseline.
Supporting source [1]
Older predicted age largest for psychosis
Substance use, psychotic, affective and neurotic disorders were associated with a metabolite-predicted age older than chronological age. The largest difference was for psychosis (β=0.556, 95% CI 0.250 to 0.861, p). The abstract states that metabolomic ageing in mental disorders is heterogeneous: while many disorders were associated with an older biological age, some were linked to a younger biological age. These are associations, not evidence that a disorder causes ageing.
Supporting source [1]
Genetic liability diverges from clinical diagnoses
The authors report that divergence between genetic liability and clinical phenotypes suggests non-genetic factors shape biological ageing differences. They conclude that biological age should not be assumed to uniformly exceed chronological age across mental disorders, and that sex- and age-specific approaches could improve understanding. The abstract does not report effect estimates for the younger-age disorders, the sex or age group results, or the polygenic score findings.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. The abstract gives no effect estimates for the younger-age disorders, sex or age group results, or polygenic score findings, and the reported associations do not establish causation.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Mutz J, Gilchrist L, Allegrini AG, Sanchez Roige S, Lewis CM. · europepmc.org · June 22, 2026