Environmental Chemical Factors Associated With Human Biological Age Acceleration: An Interpretable Machine Learning Study
Have you ever wondered if your body is aging faster or slower than your actual calendar age? Scientists call this “biological age acceleration,” and it can influence your risk for age-related diseases. A recent study used a sophisticated computer analysis method, known as interpretable machine learning, to explore what environmental factors might be speeding up this process in adults.
Researchers examined data from a large health survey, looking at 78 different environmental chemicals alongside various health indicators. They found that while known health conditions like diabetes and body mass index were significant predictors of accelerated biological aging, certain environmental chemicals also played a crucial role. Specifically, the analysis highlighted chemicals such as blood toluene, a substance often found in solvents and fuels; a urinary metabolite of benzene, which is an industrial chemical; and urinary benzophenone-3, a common ingredient in sunscreens.
This advanced computational approach not only pointed out these key chemical contributors but also revealed that their effects on biological aging are not always straightforward, often involving complex and non-linear interactions. Although a single snapshot of chemical exposure might not fully predict an individual’s aging rate, this interpretable machine learning method offers a powerful way to identify important chemicals within complex mixtures and understand how they influence our bodies. This understanding can be vital for developing public health strategies to manage risks and promote healthier aging.