What if we could look at your DNA and foresee how well you’ll age?
That bold question sits at the heart of a groundbreaking study conducted by researchers at the University of Adelaide. By diving deep into the genetics behind Intrinsic Capacity (IC)—the World Health Organization’s 2015‑introduced metric for healthy ageing—scientists are edging closer to interventions that could help us keep both mind and body robust well into our later years.
A quick refresher on Intrinsic Capacity
IC isn’t just another health score; it captures five core pillars of an individual’s physical and mental wellbeing:
- Cognition – how sharp your brain is.
- Vitality – overall energy and metabolic health.
- Sensory function – vision and hearing acuity.
- Psychological health – mood and emotional resilience.
- Physical performance – strength, balance, and mobility.
But here’s the part most people miss: unlike disease‑oriented measures that only appear after problems have manifested, IC offers a continuous, holistic view of health, mirroring the dynamic biological changes that drive ageing.
The study in a nutshell
- Scale: More than 57,000 participants were examined, pulling data from the UK Biobank (UKB) and the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Ageing (CLSA).
- Genetic influence: Roughly 20‑25 % of the differences we see in IC among individuals can be traced back to genetics; the rest is shaped by environment and lifestyle.
- Key findings: A genome‑wide association analysis identified 38 independent genetic variants across 10 distinct genomic loci that are linked to IC.
- Correlations: Those same genetic signals line up strongly with lung function, grip strength, and cognitive performance—classic hallmarks of a vibrant older adult.
“Our work is the first to map the genetic architecture of intrinsic capacity,” says Associate Professor Azmeraw Amare, senior author and NHMRC Emerging Leadership Fellow at the University of Adelaide. “Understanding these biological mechanisms opens the door to targeted strategies that could help people preserve functional abilities as they age.”
What the genes are telling us
First‑author Melkamu Beyene, a PhD candidate at Adelaide Medical School, explains that the identified genes play roles in metabolism, immune function, neurodegeneration, and cellular ageing. They are especially active in critical tissues such as the brain, heart, muscle, and other body tissues. This biological fingerprint aligns with earlier observations that IC is a powerful predictor of mortality, dependence on care, and a host of chronic diseases—even after adjusting for personal characteristics and multimorbidity.
Why this matters for the future of ageing policy
Professor Renuka Visvanathan, head of the Adelaide Geriatrics Training and Research with Aged Care Centre, emphasizes that the findings lay a solid foundation for future research into the mechanisms that underlie healthy ageing. “This research opens the door to personalised approaches for promoting healthy ageing,” she notes, adding that clinicians could soon use these insights to better forecast and support individuals’ ageing trajectories.
Professor John Beard, Irene Diamond Professor and Director of the International Longevity Center at Columbia University, reminds us of the broader vision: “Intrinsic capacity was created to shift ageing policy from a disease‑focused lens to a function‑focused one. This study supplies the biological groundwork needed to turn that vision into real‑world action.”
The controversy lurking behind the headlines
But here’s where it gets controversial: Should health systems start screening for these genetic variants? While the promise of early, personalized interventions is exciting, critics argue that emphasizing genetics might divert attention—and resources—from the socioeconomic and lifestyle factors that account for the remaining 75‑80 % of IC variation.
“Genetics is only part of the story; we can’t ignore diet, exercise, social connections, and access to care,” some public‑health experts warn.
Join the conversation
Do you think incorporating genetic information into ageing policy could accelerate healthy ageing, or does it risk deepening health inequities? Share your thoughts below—agree, disagree, or propose a middle ground. Your voice could shape the next chapter of how we age.
