Scientists created a new tool called CardioMetAge that measures how fast your heart and metabolism are aging based on simple blood tests. Unlike older aging tests, this one focuses specifically on heart disease, diabetes, and related conditions. Researchers tested it on thousands of people and found it was much better at predicting who would develop these diseases. The study also showed that eating fewer calories and having a better lifestyle could actually slow down this type of aging, suggesting these diseases might be preventable or delayed.

The Quick Take

  • What they studied: Can scientists create a better test to predict heart disease and metabolic problems by measuring how fast these systems are aging?
  • Who participated: Over 15,000 people from two large health studies (NHANES and UK Biobank) with different ages, backgrounds, and health conditions
  • Key finding: CardioMetAge was much better at predicting heart disease and metabolic problems than older aging tests. People whose CardioMetAge was higher than their actual age had nearly twice the risk of dying from heart disease.
  • What it means for you: This test could help doctors identify who’s at highest risk for heart disease and metabolic problems earlier, when lifestyle changes might help prevent or delay these diseases. However, this is still a research tool and not yet widely available in regular doctor’s offices.

The Research Details

Researchers created CardioMetAge by analyzing health data from thousands of people, focusing on 12 common blood test measurements that relate to heart and metabolic health. They trained their model using data from one large national health survey (NHANES-III), then tested how well it worked on two other huge databases of health information (continuous NHANES and UK Biobank). This approach is like teaching a computer to recognize patterns in one group of people, then checking if those patterns hold true in completely different groups.

The researchers looked at whether CardioMetAge could predict who would develop heart disease, diabetes, and related conditions over the next 10 years. They also studied what factors influenced CardioMetAge—including lifestyle choices, income level, and specific proteins in the blood—and tested whether calorie restriction could slow down cardiometabolic aging.

This type of research is valuable because it uses real-world health data from many people rather than just laboratory experiments, making the results more likely to apply to actual patients.

Previous aging tests tried to measure overall biological aging but didn’t focus specifically on heart and metabolic diseases, which are leading causes of death worldwide. By creating a test tailored specifically to these conditions, researchers could potentially catch problems earlier and help people prevent or delay serious illness.

This study is strong because it tested the new tool on very large groups of people (thousands) from different populations, making results more reliable. The researchers compared CardioMetAge to other existing aging tests, showing it performed better. They also looked at the biological reasons why CardioMetAge works, which adds credibility. However, the study is observational, meaning researchers watched what happened rather than randomly assigning people to different treatments, so we can’t be completely certain about cause-and-effect relationships.

What the Results Show

CardioMetAge successfully predicted heart disease and metabolic problems better than older aging tests. People whose CardioMetAge was one standard deviation higher than expected had 87% higher risk of dying from heart disease or related conditions. For developing new heart or metabolic disease, the risk was 35% higher. The test was also good at predicting who would develop multiple related diseases at once.

When researchers tested CardioMetAge’s ability to predict who would develop disease in the next 10 years, it outperformed all other aging tests they compared it to. This suggests it could be useful for doctors trying to identify high-risk patients early.

The study found that CardioMetAge is based on simple, common blood tests that doctors already do regularly—things like cholesterol, blood sugar, and blood pressure measurements. This makes it practical and easy to use in real medical settings.

The research revealed important clues about why some people’s hearts and metabolic systems age faster. Blood tests showed that inflammation and metabolic problems were linked to faster CardioMetAge aging. Lifestyle factors like diet and exercise explained about one-third of the differences in CardioMetAge between people. Income and socioeconomic status also mattered, accounting for about one-tenth of the differences. In a study of people who ate fewer calories for two years, their CardioMetAge slowed by about 1.2 years compared to people eating normally—suggesting these changes might actually reverse some aging.

Older biological aging tests (like PhenoAge) tried to measure overall aging across the whole body. CardioMetAge is more specialized—it focuses only on aging related to heart and metabolic disease. The study showed CardioMetAge was better at predicting these specific diseases than the older tests. This makes sense because a test designed for a specific purpose usually works better than a general test for that purpose.

The study observed what happened to people over time but didn’t randomly assign them to different treatments, so we can’t be completely certain about cause and effect. The calorie restriction study was small and only lasted two years, so we don’t know if the benefits continue longer. The research was done mostly on people of European ancestry, so results might not apply equally to all ethnic groups. CardioMetAge hasn’t been tested in actual clinical practice yet, so we don’t know how useful doctors will find it in real-world settings.

The Bottom Line

If this test becomes available through your doctor, it may be worth considering if you have risk factors for heart disease or metabolic problems (such as family history, obesity, or diabetes). The evidence suggests lifestyle changes like eating fewer calories and exercising more may slow cardiometabolic aging. However, this is still a research tool, and you should discuss any testing or lifestyle changes with your healthcare provider. Confidence level: Moderate—the research is solid, but the test isn’t yet standard medical practice.

This research matters most for people at risk of heart disease, diabetes, or metabolic syndrome. It’s also relevant for doctors and public health officials looking for better ways to identify and help high-risk patients. People interested in aging and longevity science should find this interesting. However, if you’re young and healthy with no family history of these diseases, this probably won’t change your care right now.

If you made lifestyle changes based on CardioMetAge results, the study suggests you might see improvements in your aging rate within 2 years. However, preventing actual heart disease or diabetes typically takes longer—usually several years of consistent healthy habits.

Want to Apply This Research?

  • Track your blood pressure, cholesterol levels, fasting blood sugar, and BMI monthly. These are the main measurements that go into CardioMetAge. Many health apps can help you log these values from your doctor’s visits.
  • Set a specific goal for calorie intake or daily exercise based on your current health status. The research suggests that reducing calories by a modest amount (like 10-15%) could slow cardiometabolic aging. Use the app to log meals or exercise minutes daily.
  • Get your blood work done annually and compare results year-to-year. Track lifestyle factors like exercise minutes per week, average daily steps, and diet quality. As CardioMetAge becomes available clinically, you could monitor your CardioMetAge score alongside traditional health markers to see if your lifestyle changes are working.

This research describes a new scientific tool still in development and not yet approved for routine clinical use. CardioMetAge should not be used to diagnose or treat any medical condition. The findings suggest associations between cardiometabolic aging and disease risk, but cannot prove cause and effect. Always consult with your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise routine, or medical care based on this research. If you have concerns about heart disease or metabolic health, discuss screening and prevention strategies with your doctor.