A recent study has discovered genetic variations associated with brain function, immune response, and metabolism that contribute to frailty in older adults. Published in Nature Aging by researchers from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden, this research offers new biological insights into the development of frailty.
Nature AgingFrailty—a state of reduced resilience where individuals become more susceptible to falls, infections, and other stressors—heightens the risk of hospitalization and mortality. Understanding why some people develop frailty earlier than others is crucial for developing preventive strategies.
The researchers conducted a comprehensive genetic analysis involving nearly one million participants from Finland and the United Kingdom. By examining the DNA and health data of these individuals, they identified hundreds of genetic markers that influence the likelihood of developing frailty.
"Our findings indicate that multiple genes are responsible for increasing an individual's susceptibility to frailty by affecting immune system function, brain activity, and metabolism. Many of these genes have not been previously linked to this condition," explains Juulia Jylhävä, associate professor at Karolinska Institutet's Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics.
The research suggests that it is possible to measure an individual's genetic predisposition to frailty—and potentially predict who may develop the condition early on. This could ultimately lead to interventions in middle age to prevent frailty from developing, according to the researchers.
"In the future, we might identify individuals at risk during mid-life when preventive measures can still be taken. This discovery could provide new avenues for enhancing health outcomes among older adults," Jylhävä concludes.
The study was conducted in collaboration with Tampere University in Finland.