Organ clocks vs other ageing biomarkers for 16-year mortality in LBC1936
In the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, accelerated proteomic liver, immune and heart ageing were linked to higher 16-year all-cause mortality, but epigenetic age, brain volumes, respiratory function and cognition showed stronger associations. [1]
Automatic summary · not editorially reviewed
The key findings
In the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, 861 participants and 444 deaths were analysed over 16 years for all-cause mortality. [1]
Accelerated proteomic liver, immune and heart ageing were most strongly associated with mortality among the proteomic clocks, while epigenetic age, brain volumes, respiratory function and cognition showed stronger associations. [1]
Among 9,703 plasma protein targets, 368 candidates were associated with mortality, with GDF15, WFDC2 and TIMP1 leading. [1]
The source at a glance
- Study type / format
- Observational cohort study (abstract)
- Population / context
- 861 participants of the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936, with 444 deaths over 16 years.
- Summary based on
- Study abstract
- Original publication
- October 1, 2026
Benchmarking organ clocks in 861 LBC1936 participants
The study asked how proteomic organ clocks compare with established ageing biomarkers. It used the Lothian Birth Cohort 1936: 861 participants and 444 deaths over 16 years, analysed with Cox regression. Biomarkers included the epigenetic clock GrimAge2, telomere length, physical function (grip strength, walk time, respiratory function), neuroimaging and cognitive measures. These are associations with mortality, not evidence that any biomarker causes death or that changing it extends life.
Supporting source [1]
Liver, immune and heart clocks linked to mortality
Among the proteomic clocks, accelerated liver ageing (hazard ratio per standard deviation 1.43, 95% confidence interval 1.30–1.58), immune ageing (1.42, 1.29–1.57) and heart ageing (1.38, 1.25–1.53) were most strongly associated with increased mortality risk. Older epigenetic age, smaller total brain and grey matter volumes, reduced respiratory function and poorer cognition showed stronger associations (hazard ratios per standard deviation 1.44–1.62). A hazard ratio compares risk over time between groups; here it is reported per standard deviation of each measure.
Supporting source [1]
368 protein candidates; GDF15, WFDC2 and TIMP1 leading
A second analysis examined 9,703 plasma protein targets and identified 368 candidates associated with mortality. High-risk proteins were enriched for immune functions; low-risk proteins were involved in genomic stability and cellular maintenance. The leading proteomic candidates were GDF15 (hazard ratio per standard deviation 1.56, 95% confidence interval 1.42–1.72), WFDC2 (1.47, 1.33–1.62) and TIMP1 (1.45, 1.29–1.62). These are candidate associations in one cohort, not established causal or predictive markers.
Supporting source [1]
How to interpret this
Abstract only; the full text was not reviewed. This is one cohort (LBC1936) with observational associations, not causal evidence. Protein candidates are not validated predictive markers, and no intervention or lifespan benefit is shown.
Based on the study abstract; the full paper, tables and supplementary data were not reviewed.
Source & supporting passages
Pyrgioti M, Eguiagaray IM, Redmond P, Corley J, Bastin ME, Hernández MV, Russ TC, Wardlaw JM, Hannon E, Deary IJ, Walker KA, Tucker-Drob EM, Cox SR, Marioni RE, Harris SE. · europepmc.org · October 1, 2026