A groundbreaking study from the Karolinska Institutet, published in Nature Medicine, has unveiled that a small set of common blood biomarkers can predict which older adults are likely to develop multiple chronic diseases, known as multimorbidity, and the speed at which these conditions might progress. The research, involving over 2,200 individuals aged 60 and above from the general Stockholm population, highlights a significant advancement in understanding and potentially managing multimorbidity.
Multimorbidity, the presence of several chronic diseases simultaneously, is increasingly common among the elderly and poses a substantial burden on healthcare systems. The study, led by the Aging Research Center at Karolinska Institutet, identified specific blood biomarkers that could serve as predictors for this condition, offering a new avenue for early intervention.
Unveiling the Biological Indicators
The researchers meticulously analyzed 54 blood biomarkers that reflect crucial biological processes, including inflammation, vascular health, metabolism, and neurodegeneration. Their objective was to establish a correlation between these biomarkers and three key measures of multimorbidity: the total number of diseases, common disease patterns, and the rate of disease accumulation over a 15-year period.
“We found that certain blood biomarkers, especially those connected with metabolism, were strongly linked to both specific disease combinations and how quickly new diseases developed,” explained Alice Margherita Ornago, the study’s first author and a doctoral student at the Aging Research Centre.
Key Biomarkers Identified
Among the 54 biomarkers studied, seven emerged as particularly significant. Five of these—GDF-15, HbA1c, Cystatin C, leptin, and insulin—were consistently associated with all multimorbidity measures. Two others, gamma-glutamyl transferase and albumin, were specifically linked to the speed of disease progression over time. These findings were further validated in an independent cohort of 522 participants in the United States.
“Our study suggests that disturbances in metabolism, stress responses, and energy regulation are among the main drivers of multimorbidity in older people,” stated Davide Liborio Vetrano, the principal investigator and associate professor at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society.
Implications for Early Intervention
The implications of this study are profound. By identifying high-risk individuals through simple blood tests, healthcare providers could intervene earlier, potentially slowing or altering the course of disease progression. This proactive approach could significantly reduce the burden on healthcare systems and improve the quality of life for older adults.
The research team is now planning to monitor how these blood biomarkers change over time and to explore whether lifestyle modifications or medications can influence the pathological processes associated with multimorbidity.
Collaborative Efforts and Future Directions
This study was a collaborative effort involving researchers from the Royal Institute of Technology and SciLifeLab in Sweden, the University of Brescia and the University of Milano-Bicocca in Italy, and the National Institute on Aging in the USA. It received funding from the Swedish Research Council, Karolinska Institutet’s strategic research areas in epidemiology and neuroscience, and the National Institutes of Health in the USA.
As the population ages, understanding and managing multimorbidity becomes increasingly critical. This study not only advances our knowledge of the biological underpinnings of multimorbidity but also opens new pathways for research and clinical practice aimed at mitigating its impact.
The findings have been published under the title “Shared and specific blood biomarkers for multimorbidity” in Nature Medicine, marking a significant milestone in the field of geriatric medicine.
