# Red Blood Cell Proteins Can Track Biological Aging and Predict Health a Decade Later

- **Evidence Level**: Preliminary
- **Journal**: bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology
- **Sample Size**: 13,091 blood donors with longitudinal follow-up
- **Published**: 2026-03-08
- **Topics**: aging, biomarkers, blood
- **Original Source**: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41846981/

## Summary

Researchers built a protein-based aging clock from the red blood cells of over 13,000 blood donors. People with conditions like G6PD deficiency and sickle cell trait showed accelerated molecular aging. Iron supplementation appeared to reverse some of that acceleration. The molecular age scores predicted real-world outcomes like hemolysis and donor activity over a 12-year follow-up.

## Practical Takeaway

This study suggests red blood cell proteins could serve as accessible markers of biological aging.

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