A new health assessment tool may offer better ways to understand how the body ages and predict future health risks. Developed by researchers at the University of Washington School of Medicine, the “Health Octo Tool” uses routine medical data to estimate a person’s true biological age and highlight the likelihood of disability or early death.
The tool analyzes eight indicators drawn from standard physical exams and lab tests. These metrics provide a broader view of bodily functions, rather than focusing on individual diseases.
Shabnam Salimi, a physician-scientist and acting instructor in the Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, led the research team. She said current health tools often overlook how multiple conditions interact or how minor disorders can affect long-term health.
“An aging-based framework offers a new path to discover biomarkers and therapeutics that target organ-specific or whole-body aging, rather than individual diseases,” Salimi said.
Aging measured through internal damage, not disease alone
The concept behind the tool is known as “health entropy.” It refers to the gradual buildup of internal damage over time and its effect on how well organs and systems function together. Simply put, it reflects how fast or slow the body is aging.
Researchers used data from the Baltimore Longitudinal Study on Aging, one of the world’s longest-running aging studies, to develop the Health Octo Tool.
They examined participants’ medical records, physical exams, and test results. They tested the tool on two large datasets that included more than 45,000 adults to confirm their findings.
During the process, the team created the Body Organ Disease Number. This score measures how many major organ systems—such as the heart, lungs, or brain—are affected by disease. It also includes whether a person has had conditions like cancer or stroke. Scores range from 1 to 14.
Organ-specific aging leads to targeted tools
The researchers found that different organ systems age at different rates. In response, they introduced the Bodily System-Specific Age and the Bodily-Specific Clock. These metrics track how fast each system is aging and its current biological age.
They then expanded the framework to cover the entire body. The Body Clock estimates a person’s overall biological age, while the Body Age reflects how quickly their body is aging.
Additional tools were created to measure physical function. The Speed-Body Clock and Speed-Body Age link biological age to walking speed, a common mobility test in older adults. Two more tools, the Disability-Body Clock and Disability-Body Age, estimate the risk of developing physical or mental disabilities due to aging.
Salimi said all eight measures work together to offer a detailed picture of a person’s aging process using only common health data.
One key finding from the study is the long-term impact of untreated conditions early in life. For example, ignoring high blood pressure at a young age could speed up aging and increase health risks later. The research suggests that addressing such problems early may improve long-term health outcomes.
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