Deep Neural Networks (DNN) have been recently developed for the estimation of Biological Age (BA), the hypothetical underlying age of an organism, which can differ from its chronological age (CA). Although promising, these population-specific algorithms warrant further characterization and validation, since their biological, clinical and environmental correlates remain largely unexplored. Here, an accurate DNN was trained to compute BA based on 36 circulating biomarkers in an Italian population (N = 23,858; age ≥ 35 years; 51.7% women). This estimate was heavily influenced by markers of metabolic, heart, kidney and liver function. The resulting Δage (BA–CA) significantly predicted mortality and hospitalization risk for all and specific causes. Slowed biological aging (Δage < 0) was associated with higher physical and mental wellbeing, healthy lifestyles (e.g. adherence to Mediterranean diet) and higher socioeconomic status (educational attainment, household income and occupational status), while accelerated aging (Δage > 0) was associated with smoking and obesity. Together, lifestyles and socioeconomic variables explained ~48% of the total variance in Δage, potentially suggesting the existence of a genetic basis. These findings validate blood-based biological aging as a marker of public health in adult Italians and provide a robust body of knowledge on its biological architecture, clinical implications and potential environmental influences.

最近开发了深度神经网络 (DNN) 来估计生物年龄 (BA)，这是生物体的假设潜在年龄，可能与其实际年龄 (CA) 不同。尽管很有希望，但这些特定于人群的算法需要进一步表征和验证，因为它们的生物学、临床和环境相关性在很大程度上仍未探索。在这里，根据意大利人群（N = 23,858；年龄 ≥ 35 岁；51.7% 的女性）中的 36 个循环生物标志物，训练一个准确的 DNN 来计算 BA。这一估计受到代谢、心脏、肾脏和肝功能标志物的严重影响。由此产生的 Δage (BA-CA) 显着预测了所有和特定原因的死亡率和住院风险。生物老化减慢（Δage < 0）与更高的身心健康有关，健康的生活方式（例如坚持地中海饮食）和更高的社会经济地位（教育程度、家庭收入和职业状况），而加速衰老（Δage > 0）与吸烟和肥胖有关。生活方式和社会经济变量共同解释了 Δage 总方差的约 48%，这可能表明存在遗传基础。这些发现验证了基于血液的生物老化是意大利成年人公共卫生的一个标志，并提供了关于其生物结构、临床意义和潜在环境影响的丰富知识。生活方式和社会经济变量解释了约 48% 的 Δage 总方差，这可能表明存在遗传基础。这些发现验证了基于血液的生物老化是意大利成年人公共卫生的一个标志，并提供了关于其生物结构、临床意义和潜在环境影响的丰富知识。生活方式和社会经济变量解释了约 48% 的 Δage 总方差，这可能表明存在遗传基础。这些发现证实了基于血液的生物衰老是意大利成年人公共卫生的一个标志，并提供了关于其生物结构、临床意义和潜在环境影响的丰富知识。