Clonal Hematopoiesis Is Associated With Future Diseases And Mortality
As we age, our bodies undergo many changes, some of which are invisible but can have significant health implications. One such change occurs in our blood-forming system, where certain blood stem cells in the bone marrow can acquire tiny genetic mistakes, or “mutations.” When these mutated cells start to multiply and produce a larger share of our blood cells, it’s a phenomenon called clonal hematopoiesis. Think of it like a small group of cells with a unique genetic signature taking over a portion of the blood cell production. This condition, particularly a form known as clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP), is defined by the presence of these somatic mutations in blood-forming cells at a certain detectable level, without signs of a blood cancer or unexplained low blood counts.
While these genetic changes don’t immediately cause symptoms, recent research highlights their profound impact on our long-term health. A large study involving hundreds of thousands of individuals revealed that people with CHIP face a higher likelihood of developing a wide array of diseases, not just blood cancers or heart problems. This includes an increased risk of various cancers, infections, and conditions affecting the heart, blood, nervous system, respiratory system, and even the genitourinary system. It was also linked to an elevated risk of mental and skin disorders, and importantly, an increased risk of death from various causes, especially those related to the circulatory system. The extent of this risk can vary, with larger populations of these mutated cells (indicated by a higher “variant allele fraction,” which is the percentage of DNA with the mutation) or specific types of mutations leading to even greater health concerns. This discovery underscores that these subtle genetic alterations in our blood cells are a crucial, previously underappreciated, factor in overall human health and longevity.
Source: link to paper