The holders of the B blood group could age more slowly thanks to optimized cell repair and better management of metabolic stress. However, they would be more at risk of cardiovascular disorders.
- A study suggests that people in the B blood group could age more slowly thanks to better management of metabolic stress and optimized cell repair.
- However, they have an increased risk of cardiovascular disorders, requiring particular vigilance, including balanced diet, physical activity and emotional well-being.
- New research shows that blood analysis can reveal which organs age faster, paving the way for personalized strategies to slow down cell degeneration.
All human beings want to age in good health, but not everyone is going through time at the same speed. It would even be written in our blood group, according to a new study published in the journal Experimental Gerontologywhich reveals that people in group B could age more slowly than others.
Life expectancy and cell repair
A, B, AB or O: blood groups are determined by antigens present on red blood cells and antibodies circulating in the blood. Individuals in group B, which represent around 10 % of the world’s population, have antigen B and produce antibodies against antigen A. However, this peculiarity could influence the way in which their organism manages metabolic changes, to the point of slow down aging.
It has now been decades that the scientific community explores the links between blood groups and life expectancy, according to an article on the site Earth relaying the study. In 2004, a team of Japanese researchers had already concluded that group B could be associated with exceptional longevity by comparing 269 centenarians living in Tokyo. This time, scientists have analyzed the biological age of 11 organs in more than 5,000 volunteers, by measuring the levels of some 4,000 proteins in the blood circulation.
Better cell repair capacity
Their results have shown that around 20 % of the population have accelerated aging of at least one organ – a characteristic that has not been observed in participants carrying the blood group B. Two explanations are advanced: better capacity of Cellular repair and more effective management of metabolic stress, thus protecting against certain diseases associated with age.
Blood, a precious detection tool
Being part of the B blood group B does not however mean being immune to health problems. Scientists have indeed noted a slightly increased risk of cardiovascular disorders. They recall that a balanced diet, regular physical activity and good stress management remain the best ways to prevent them. The study also shows that group B would have greater emotional sensitivity, stressing the importance of social bond and emotional support for their mental well-being.
Until now, the methods to assess aging were mainly based on the analysis of the epigenetic modifications of DNA, requiring complex tissue samples. However, blood offers a simpler and accessible alternative. Not to mention that the tools of artificial intelligence allow today to analyze thousands of proteins and to identify which organs age faster than expected. “This approach could thus pave the way for personalized strategies to slow down cell degeneration”conclude the authors.
