The same biological processes that drive aging — such as energy loss — may also contribute to lung diseases like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
Cleveland Clinic researchers have developed a metabolic age clock that evaluates an individual’s metabolic function relative to the expected norm for their age group. Using this tool, they identified a link between COPD and accelerated metabolic aging.
Led by Pulmonologist Russell P. Bowler, MD, PhD, the study, published in Metabolites, is the first to establish a connection between metabolic age and COPD. Bowler believes the findings deepen our understanding of biological age (ie, how well organs and systems function) compared with chronological age, and how both factors contribute to COPD.
A New Way to Measure Metabolic Aging
“We have long known that…