Rapid Fire
BHARAT Study: Mapping Healthy Ageing Biomarkers
- 04 Jul 2025
- 2 min read
The Indian Institute of Science, under the Longevity India Programme, has launched the BHARAT (Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions) study to map ageing biomarkers and build a baseline for healthy ageing specific to the Indian population.
- Ageing Complexity: Ageing varies across individuals and populations, driven by molecular, cellular, environmental, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors, meaning chronological age may not reflect true biological age.
- Need for India-Specific Data: Current biomarkers and diagnostic standards are often based on Western biomarkers and cut-offs (like cholesterol, vitamin D, CRP levels), which may not be accurate or applicable to Indians, risking misdiagnosis and ineffective treatment.
- Despite rising life expectancy in India (now 67.3 years), there is a projected surge in age-related diseases like Parkinson’s (168% increase by 2050) and 200% rise in dementia, underscoring the need for early detection and intervention.
- Significance of Biomarkers: BHARAT aims to build a reliable “Bharat Baseline” — a reference for what constitutes normal health markers specifically for the Indian population.
- It covers a broad range of indicators, including genomic biomarkers (e.g., disease-linked mutations), proteomic and metabolic markers (reflecting biological and metabolic health), and environmental and lifestyle factors.
- The study will use AI and machine learning to analyze complex multi-dimensional datasets to predict health outcomes and design effective interventions.
| Read more: Challenges Related to Aging Population |
