Phenotypic age is a commonly used measure of biological age, easily calculated from blood samples. A study reveals that average phenotypic age in older women is slightly lower than chronological age. Interestingly, hormone replacement therapy has minimal impact on phenotypic age. The practical implications of phenotypic age on individual life expectancy and interventions are still unclear.
Among 117,763 postmenopausal women in the UK Biobank, those who had used hormone therapy were older in both chronological and phenotypic age. They also had lower education, income, higher exposure to nicotine, chronic diseases, and a higher rate of oophorectomy and hysterectomy.
In this study, using hormone therapy for 4 to 8 years resulted in a 0.25-year reduction in biological aging discrepancy. Each year increase in phenotypic age was linked to higher mortality risks. Therefore, the observed delay in aging could reduce mortality risks significantly. Promoting hormone therapy in postmenopausal women may be beneficial for healthy aging.
In conclusion, postmenopausal women with a history of hormone therapy use showed a younger biological age, with a stronger effect in those with low socioeconomic status. The relationship between hormone therapy, biological aging, and reduced mortality warrants further investigation.
Link: https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.30839
