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AI Predicts Health and Lifespan Using Metabolic Age

Innovations at King’s College London Usher in New Era for Predicting Health Outcomes

Innovations at King’s College London are ushering in a new era for predicting health outcomes and life expectancy through AI-powered metabolic age estimation tools. These innovations, based on the relationship between blood metabolites and advanced machine learning techniques, could radically alter our grasp of aging and open the door to proactive healthcare.

The groundbreaking work, featured in the journal Science Advances, marks the inaugural comprehensive analysis of diverse machine learning models to gauge biological age through metabolites present in the blood. Spearheaded by support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre, the project harnessed the vast dataset of more than 225,000 individuals, aged between 40 and 69, from the UK Biobank repository.

Assessing Biological Age and Wellness

Researchers introduced the term “MileAge” to denote an individual’s metabolite-reflective biological age. The discrepancy between this metabolite-inferred age and the actual chronological age, known as the MileAge delta, acts as a barometer for biological aging pace. Findings revealed that individuals with a quicker pace of biological aging exhibited increased frailty, susceptibility to chronic conditions, negative assessments of their own health, and heightened mortality rates. Additionally, these individuals showed shorter telomeres, which are critical indicators of aging-linked pathologies.

Lead author Dr. Julian Mutz, King’s Prize Research Fellow at the IoPPN, explained, “Biological age can be influenced and potentially changed. Our work assessed a wide array of machine learning models to create age estimation tools, finding that non-linear models are more adept at discerning the complex patterns of aging.” Professor Cathryn Lewis, a senior author on the paper, emphasized the burgeoning interest in developing tools to measure biological age, underlining the vital importance of big data in refining these aging clocks.

The study identified that a particular machine learning approach—the Cubist rule-based regression—held the most robust correlation with various indicators of health and aging. Non-linear models, with their ability to encapsulate intricate connections between metabolites and age, excelled in pinpointing the biological signals tied to one’s health and longevity.

The advent of aging clocks rooted in AI holds tremendous promise for the early identification of health declines, supporting the proactive management of health and informing lifestyle choices conducive to prolonged wellness. This research highlights the transformative potential of artificial intelligence coupled with machine learning to carve new frontages in preemptive health measures and tailored medical approaches.

Unravelling Indo-European Language Origins Through DNA

A novel interdisciplinary investigation has provided exciting new perspectives on the formation of the Indo-European language family through the analysis of prehistoric DNA data.

This collaborative research project involving 91 leading scientists, including the distinguished Eske Willerslev from the University of Copenhagen, has successfully traced back the ancestral roots of populations important to the dispersal of this language group across Europe and parts of Asia.

Peering Back in Time through Genetic Markers

The innovative study reveals crucial evidence of a distinct genetic divergence between Bronze Age populations linked to the Eastern and Western Mediterranean regions. The team’s data suggests that Western groups, including populations now in modern-day Spain, France, and Italy, inherited their steppe lineage through the Bell Beaker culture, whereas Eastern groups, such as Greek and Armenian populations, have lineages more directly derived from Yamnaya ancestors.

Centered on the legendary Pontic Steppe, north of the Black Sea, this area is widely regarded as the launching point for the spread of Indo-European languages. The researchers note that while previous genetic assessments verified the presence of steppe ancestry throughout Europe, it remained unclear whether this steppe heritage was from single or multiple sources.

Employing 314 ancient genomes dated from 2,100 to 5,200 years ago and collected from across a broad swathe of land stretching from Spain to Lebanon, the researchers utilized sophisticated identity-by-descent models to decipher distinct sources of steppe ancestry. Complemented by strontium isotope analysis on 224 individuals, the group mapped the migration and movement patterns of ancient populations.

The interdisciplinary approach, marrying genetic information with isotope data, identified two primary pathways by which steppe lineage permeated the Mediterranean during the Bronze Age. This suggested a high degree of movement and interaction, as evidenced by individuals with varying geographical ties, such as an Italian person with divergent locations of childhood and adulthood, or cases in Cyprus linking genetic heritage to Scandinavia, implying far-reaching commercial exchange.

When this genetic evidence was aligned with existing linguistic frameworks, a stark division emerged between Eastern and Western populations of Indo-European language speakers. This supports certain linguistic hypotheses like Italo-Celtic and Graeco-Armenian and challenges others, including the Indo-Greek and Italo-Germanic theories.

For those seeking a comprehensive exploration of this subject, the study entitled “Ancient genomics support deep divergence between Eastern and Western Mediterranean Indo-European languages” is available on the bioRxiv preprint server.

These groundbreaking insights stress the value of multi-disciplinary work in reconstructing the intricate mosaic of our collective heritage, leading to a more refined perception of humanity’s historical saga.

Cannabis Surpasses Prescription Sleep Aids in US

More American Adults Now Using Cannabis for Sleep, Surpassing Prescription Medications and Alcohol

Recent findings from an industry-supported survey suggest that more American adults are now turning to cannabis than prescription medications or alcohol to aid their sleep. The report, based on a poll carried out by The Harris Poll on behalf of Green Thumb Industries and their “incredibles” edible range, indicates that about 16% of American adults aged 21 and up are using cannabis to help them drift off.

Shift towards Cannabis for Sleep Troubles

Even though the use of dietary supplements (26%) and drugs readily available over-the-counter (19%) for sleep still leads, cannabis consumption has surpassed that of prescribed sleep aids (12%) and alcoholic beverages (11%). The report points to a shift among the population towards favoring cannabis for tackling sleep disturbances.

Cannabis Users are a Significant Majority

Data collected from an online survey of 2,019 adults during the early part of June 2024 demonstrate that a considerable majority, 79%, experience difficulties with sleeping, with 58% of these individuals resorting to some form of substance for relief, and cannabis—comprising various marijuana and hemp-based products—capturing 16% of this group. Additionally, CBD, with or without the inclusion of melatonin, is chosen by a specific 10%.

Gender-based Usage Discrepancies

The survey, which reports a margin of error of ±2.5 percentage points, also reveals gender-based discrepancies in usage. Men are marginally more likely to choose cannabis (18%) and CBD (11%) for sleep aid compared to women, at 15% and 8% respectively. Looking at age demographics, younger women in the 21 to 34 range are reporting a higher usage of cannabis for sleep, whereas for men, it’s most prevalent among those aged 35 to 44.

Earnings Impact on Sleep Aid Choice

An individual’s earnings also appear to play a role in their choice of sleep aid, with those earning under $50,000 annually more apt to opt for cannabis (23%). In contrast, those with higher incomes tend toward supplements and over-the-counter options.

Parents More Likely to Use Cannabis

Furthermore, the survey uncovered that parents, especially those with young children, tend to use cannabis at larger rates for slumber, with a 21% usage rate reported among this demographic as opposed to 14% amongst non-parents.

Regional Usage Differences

Regionally, the Western (20%) and Northeastern (19%) parts of the United States show a higher predilection for using cannabis as a sleep aid, while this is less common in the South (13%) and Midwest (14%). Notably, 21% of people consuming cannabis-infused edibles do so with the intention of improving sleep.

Acceptance of Cannabis as a Component of Health and Wellness

Highlighting the crucial aspect of restful sleep, Ben Kovler, Green Thumb’s CEO, emphasizes the growing preference for cannabis for relaxation, sleep, and well-being. The insights gleaned from this poll not only spotlight a move towards natural sleep aids by Americans but also reflect the broader acceptance of cannabis as a component of health and wellness routines. With cannabis as a sleep aid becoming a more prevalent choice for American adults, this trend underscores a significant swing in attitudes towards natural remedies for sleep enhancement.

Linking Marijuana Laws to Lower Anxiety Rx Rates

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Recent findings indicate that the sanctioning of both medical and recreational marijuana in various states correlates with a downtrend in the frequency of anxiety medication prescriptions being dispensed.

Detailed in JAMA Network Open, a thorough investigation spearheaded by an applied policy researcher with expertise in risky behaviors and substance use economics, in collaboration with others, sought to explore how marijuana legislation and the presence of dispensaries affect the frequency of anxiety drug prescriptions among the privately insured.

Analyses from the Investigation

The scope of the investigation covered the dispensing of drugs, including benzodiazepines, recognized for their ability to soothe by enhancing the brain’s GABA neurotransmitter, with familiar examples being Valium, Xanax, and Ativan. Nonetheless, researchers did not report the influence of marijuana policies on the dispensing of barbiturates and sleep aids.

The data consistently pointed to a link between marijuana access and a reduced rate of benzodiazepine dispensing—which specifically refers to the patient retrieval of medications and not merely the quantity prescribed. The outcomes, however, were found to differ across states and were dependent on the specifics of the marijuana laws.

Health Policy Considerations

Given the statistics from 2021 where nearly 23 percent of adults in the United States reported a diagnosable mental health issue, yet only around 65.4 percent received treatment, the lack of adequate mental health care remains a pressing issue. Medical marijuana statutes often permit individuals with conditions such as PTSD to obtain cannabis, and recreational statutes broaden this access to most adults.

The results of the study are significant across various sectors, including insurance and policy development. The concurrent use of benzodiazepines and opioids poses significant risks, underscored by benzodiazepines being implicated in 14% of opioid-related fatalities in 2020. Consequently, marijuana might represent a safer alternative for managing anxiety, presuming it has comparable efficacy.

Additional Inquiries and Prospective Research

While the research highlighted shifts in prescription patterns, it did not discern whether such changes improved patient health outcomes. It also recorded a minor uptick in antipsychotic and antidepressant prescriptions, prompting questions about whether enhanced marijuana availability might affect incidences of psychotic disorders and depression. Considerable variability in policy impacts was observed amongst states, hinting that specific marijuana legislation could lead to diverse health implications.

These findings ignite crucial debate regarding the relationship between the legalization of marijuana and the use of prescription anxiety medications, advocating for more detailed research to fully grasp the advantages and potential drawbacks. The data compel further inquiry into the dynamics between sanctioned cannabis use and pharmaceutical reliance, especially in the realm of anxiety treatment.

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