Northwestern Lab Expands Global Push to Measure Biological Age and Extend Healthspan

Northwestern University’s Potocsnak Longevity Institute is expanding its work on biological aging, aiming to map how old a person’s cells and organs really are and to translate that knowledge into longer, healthier lives. The institute’s Human Longevity Laboratory offers comprehensive aging analyses and plans to build a network of longevity labs on almost every continent by next year, with sites already planned in Japan, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Dr. Douglas Vaughan, director of the institute and a former Vanderbilt University cardiology chair, says the effort is designed to benefit a broad public rather than just the ultra-wealthy. "We want to find ways to slow down aging for the 99% of people in the world, not the 0.01%," Vaughan said.

Biological age differs from chronological age. The lab measures multiple dimensions, including body composition via DEXA scans, cardiac and vascular aging, gait speed and grip strength, and pulmonary function, along with molecular-based tools and AI-powered age clocks. One notable method uses retinal images processed in the cloud by a partner team in New Zealand to estimate biological age in seconds. Since opening the first version of the lab more than a year and a half ago, the team has tested roughly 300 participants and compared the measurements to identify which tools are most reliable. Staff discuss results with participants and offer guidance on health or lifestyle changes that might slow aging.

Vaughan emphasizes that aging has two dimensions: chronological age, a calendar measure, and biological age, a composite reflection of how well organs and systems are aging. The two can diverge; some people appear biologically younger than their years, others older. The lab’s work is intended to help identify gaps between the two and, for those with slower aging, to reinforce healthy habits; for those aging more rapidly due to a chronic condition or environmental factors, the aim is to tailor medical care to slow deterioration. He points to a genetic variant in a rare population of Old Order Amish in Indiana linked to lower PAI-1 levels that appears to protect against aging in several ways, and he says those observations helped spark the Human Longevity Laboratory. The broader point, he says, is that aging is not simply a fixed number and that biology offers opportunities to intervene.

Researchers say there is not yet solid data on routine use of many anti-aging interventions. While there is growing public interest in supplements and drugs such as creatine, NAD, stem-cell or plasma infusions, Vaughan cautions that evidence remains uneven. Northwestern plans to test a range of interventions, from stress-reduction programs to drugs including rapamycin, metformin or Ozempic, to see how they affect biological aging clocks. He stressed that robust evidence is needed before recommendations are adopted broadly.

Besides clinical testing, the Longevity Institute operates several centers, including HIV & Aging and Population Science & Aging, and is developing wearables to track aging-related changes. Researchers study environmental factors that drive biological aging and have found that smoking accelerates aging and that exposure to cannabinoids may have aging-related effects, while living near green spaces can slow aging. The institute aims to expand globally through partnerships with international universities and clinics, including Tohoku University in Japan, Mount Sinai Medical Center in Miami, the London Clinic and Stellenbosch University in South Africa, with additional labs planned in coming months. In addition to measuring age, the network intends to enroll participants in pragmatic short-term clinical trials designed to determine whether interventions can slow aging in diverse populations around the world, regardless of ethnicity, diet or air quality. The first study will explore whether stress-reduction techniques affect biological age.

On genetics, Vaughan says while people often assume genetics dominate lifespan, the influence may be under 20%. The environment and lifestyle, including place of residence and daily habits, appear to matter more. Asked whether people will reach ages of 150, Vaughan said an outlier or two might be possible, but the goal is to extend healthspan by two to four healthy years for most people, a societal benefit that could offset rising medical costs and caregiving needs.

This article is part of TIME Longevity, an editorial platform exploring how and why people live longer and what that means for individuals, institutions and society.