Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Dec 18: Researchers have unveiled a breakthrough non-invasive tool that can estimate a person’s biological age using a simple urine sample, potentially transforming the way ageing and disease risks are detected early. The findings, published in the journal NPJ Aging, describe a novel “urine aging clock” that analyses tiny RNA molecules to assess how old the body truly is — beyond the number of candles on a birthday cake.
In the study, scientists analysed urine samples from over 6,000 participants in Japan, collected during routine cancer screening programmes. The focus was on microRNAs (miRNAs), small gene-regulating molecules present inside extracellular vesicles in urine. Using advanced sequencing and machine-learning models, researchers were able to predict biological age with an accuracy of around 4.4 to 5.1 years.
The difference between a person’s predicted biological age and their actual chronological age, termed “biological age acceleration”, can indicate whether someone is ageing faster than expected due to lifestyle factors or underlying health conditions. Separate prediction models for men and women further improved accuracy, with specific miRNAs such as miR-155-5p and miR-34a-5p emerging as key ageing markers linked to cellular stress and senescence.
The study highlights the clinical importance of biological ageing clocks, as accelerated biological age is associated with higher risks of illness and premature mortality. Such tools could help doctors identify individuals at higher risk, monitor the effectiveness of lifestyle changes or treatments, and intervene before disease develops.
Notably, the researchers found a strong link between biological age acceleration and type 2 diabetes. Middle-aged men and women with diabetes showed significantly higher urine-based ageing scores, suggesting the test may detect early metabolic damage. Other age-related changes observed in miRNAs were linked to bone health, immune function, and cellular ageing pathways.
Compared to blood-based tests, the urine method offers clear advantages. It is non-invasive, cost-effective, and suitable for large-scale screenings, making it more practical for routine health checks. While it does not yet replace established DNA methylation tests, it performed competitively against many blood RNA-based ageing markers.
However, researchers caution that the tool has limitations. Accuracy was lower in people under 25 and over 80, and results may be affected in individuals with cancer or bladder-related conditions. The authors also note that further studies across diverse populations are needed before widespread clinical use.
Despite these caveats, scientists believe the urine aging clock holds promise as an early warning system for age-related health risks and could eventually be developed into easy-to-use home testing kits. As longevity research accelerates, this innovation suggests that a simple urine sample may soon offer powerful insights into how fast our bodies are really ageing.