BHARAT Study: Mapping Healthy Ageing Biomarkers | 04 Jul 2025

Source: TH 

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.