Healthy aging is measured using a combination of physical, cognitive, and immune function metrics. The XPRIZE Healthspan competition aims to develop a gold standard for these measurements by funding a series of awards for researchers. The ultimate goal is to define „success“ in a way that can be universally applied to future longevity therapies.
Measuring Healthy Aging: Key Metrics
There is no single, universally accepted measure for healthy aging. Instead, researchers use a variety of metrics to assess function across different domains. The XPRIZE Healthspan competition focuses on three key areas:
- Muscle Function: This is often measured through physical performance tests like endurance capacity (e.g., 6-minute walk distance, 400m walk time), lower body power, and muscle mass. The goal is to develop treatments that restore function to a level typically seen in people 10 to 20 years younger.
- Cognitive Function: This domain is measured through various cognitive assessments and digital tools. The aim is to see improvements in areas like memory, executive function, and information processing speed, which are essential for maintaining independence.
- Immune Function: Immunological biomarkers are used to assess the health of the immune system. With age, the immune system becomes less effective, a process known as immunosenescence. Interventions are being tested to see if they can reverse this decline, making the body more resilient to disease.
The XPRIZE Healthspan Longitudinal Data Analysis Select Awards
The competition is funding four $10,000 grants, called the XPRIZE Healthspan Longitudinal Data Analysis Select Awards, to researchers with access to large population datasets. The purpose of these awards is to analyze existing data to establish „reference thresholds“ for aging across different demographics.
- Purpose: These awards are designed to create a „measuring stick“ by which the final $81 million Grand Prize will be judged. The data from these awards will help define what a meaningful improvement in muscle, cognitive, and immune function looks like.
- Inclusivity: A key focus of these grants is to prioritize data from non-U.S. populations to ensure that the standards developed are globally applicable and not biased towards any specific group. This is important because most aging research has historically been conducted on U.S. populations.
- Recipients: The grants are specifically designed to support early-career researchers and junior faculty, inviting fresh perspectives to help shape the future of aging science.
By establishing these standardized metrics, XPRIZE hopes to accelerate the development of effective longevity therapies that can benefit everyone, not just those in specific research populations.