A framework of biomarkers for skeletal aging: a consensus statement by the Aging Biomarker Consortium

Ethical concerns in aging research: perspectives of global frontline researchers

This study investigated the ethical landscape of aging research amid the increasing global focus on extending the human lifespan and health span. Our global survey of 180 researchers across 38 jurisdictions revealed divergent perceptions of aging, a consensus regarding the feasibility of delaying aging, and multiple perspectives regarding lifespan extension. The present findings underscore a paradigm shift toward inclusive and ethically sound research, emphasizing the need for an approach that strikes a balance between basic and clinical research. In addition, this study highlighted key ethical concerns in aging research, including the effects of misleading advertising, potential inequality in access to aging interventions, and risks pertaining to the extrapolation of research findings from lower-model organisms to humans. The insights presented in this paper call for an integrated approach for overcoming the complex ethical and societal challenges in aging research to ensure responsible and equitable advancements in this burgeoning field.

Targeting aging and age-related diseases with vaccines

Aging is a major risk factor for numerous chronic diseases. Vaccination offers a promising strategy to combat these age-related diseases by targeting specific antigens and inducing immune responses. Here, we provide a comprehensive overview of recent advances in vaccine-based interventions targeting these diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, type II diabetes, hypertension, abdominal aortic aneurysm, atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, fibrosis and cancer, summarizing current approaches for identifying disease-associated antigens and inducing immune responses against these targets. Further, we reflect on the recent development of vaccines targeting senescent cells, as a strategy for more broadly targeting underlying causes of aging and associated pathologies. In addition to highlighting recent progress in these areas, we discuss important next steps to advance the therapeutic potential of these vaccines, including improving and robustly demonstrating efficacy in human clinical trials, as well as rigorously evaluating the safety and long-term effects of these vaccine strategies.

A biomarker framework for liver aging: the Aging Biomarker Consortium consensus statement

In human aging, liver aging per se not only increases susceptibility to liver diseases but also increases vulnerability of other organs given its central role in regulating metabolism. Total liver function tends to be well maintained in the healthy elderly, so liver aging is generally difficult to identify early. In response to this critical challenge, the Aging Biomarker Consortium of China has formulated an expert consensus on biomarkers of liver aging by synthesizing the latest scientific literature, comprising insights from both scientists and clinicians. This consensus provides a comprehensive assessment of biomarkers associated with liver aging and presents a systematic framework to characterize these into three dimensions: functional, imaging, and humoral. For the functional domain, we highlight biomarkers associated with cholesterol metabolism and liver-related coagulation function. For the imaging domain, we note that hepatic steatosis and liver blood flow can serve as measurable biomarkers for liver aging. Finally, in the humoral domain, we pinpoint hepatokines and enzymatic alterations worthy of attention. The aim of this expert consensus is to establish a foundation for assessing the extent of liver aging and identify early signs of liver aging-related diseases, thereby improving liver health and the healthy life expectancy of the elderly population.