Biomarkers and Aging: New Insights for Precision Medicine

The number and proportion of people aged 60 years and older in the population is increasing. This number is projected to increase to 1.4 billion by 2030 and 2.1 billion by 2050. An aging population presents or will present many challenges in employment, learning, integrated health, and long-term care systems. The mechanisms of aging are not fully understood to date. There is a clear need to study the biomarkers for prediction, diagnosis, management, and prognosis in aging. Little is currently known about the role of immune-mediated biomarkers such as Rheumatoid factors, and stress-mediated biomarkers such as cortisol in aging. Also, there is rising evidence to support the roles of neuroendocrine biomarkers in organ-specific aging. It is not fully understood yet how these biomarkers affect the aging processes in diverse populations. Studies in these aspects can illuminate the aging processes and the significance of biomarkers in aging to precision medicine.

Many factors have been highlighted in literature that contribute to aging. However, very little evidence exists to underpin novel biomarkers that can be targeted by novel therapies to halt the progress of aging. This Research Topic aims to investigate and identify novel biomarkers that can explain aging in diverse populations. Some of the areas of interest include immune-mediated aging and DNA repair enzymes. The immune system is shaped throughout life by both host-intrinsic and host-extrinsic variables such as diet, infection history, genetics, and age. The importance of immunity in aging is very evident because in normal aging there is a chronic activation of the immune system. Also, there is distinct evidence for the role of imperfect DNA repair in aging. The novel biomarkers identified in these studies can be communicated to the wider communities to leverage innovative drug development in precision medicine to battle aging and changes in other systems associated with aging.

This Research Topic will collect original articles, short communication, systematic reviews, mini-reviews, meta-analyses, methods, project reports, case reports, and concept papers that address the following (but are not limited to) themes:

•New evidence to support factors that contribute to aging
•Genetics and aging: Population diversity and relevance to health
•Ageing and changes in other systems e.g. behavioral or psychology
•Anti-ageing therapy and novel bio-active compound screening
•Understanding mechanisms of aging through machine learning
and AI
•Precision medicine in ageing

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Case Report
• Clinical Trial
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• FAIR² DATA Direct Submission
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Review
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Receptors, Stress, Inflammation, DNA repair Enzymes, Genetic Biomarkers

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.