Why lifestyle choices affect how our bodies age and deteriorate

In the first phase, different biological material like blood, stool, etc., will be collected from healthy individuals who will be given a detailed questionnaire about their lifestyle and medical history. At least 2,000 people in the age group 19-100+ will be recruited for the study planned by the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru. The initial data sampling will take at least two years to be processed. There will be five different age groups and initially the project will have tie ups with Banglaore medical college and research institute (BMCRI) and M S Ramaiah Medical College.

Persons with chronic disorders, surgical history,and those who have had a recent episode of infection will not be included in the study. In the latter part, there will be comparative data with groups of individuals who have suffered from different kind of disorders. “The main aim of our research is to pinpoint the biological markers that signal healthy ageing, working to counteract the decline that often comes with getting older,” Dr Saini said.

“We can then predict which organ in the body is the weakest link,” Dr Saini adds as he emphasises that the large scale study has been planned to extend healthy life expectancy and promote longevity. “The aim is to study ageing through the lens of science and technology and discovering interventions that can prevent age related diseases,” he said.

Researchers from multiple IISc departments, clinicians, industry, philanthropists and civil society will be involved in the study. The initiative has received initial funding support from Prashanth Prakash, founding partner, Accel India and according to researchers this is an ambitious project.