A new study published in The Lancet Digital Health suggests that biological age of different organs could predict a person's risk of diseases such as cancer, dementia, and heart disease than their actual chronological age. The research analyzed long-term data from Whitehall II study, which had been followed by over 10,000 British adults for more than 35 years.

The blood plasma samples were collected between 1997 and 1999 from participants between ages 45 to 69. Researchers have now examined a follow up data from 6,235 participants, who were by then aged 65 to 89. This was done to see how aging of specific organ may correlate with the development of diseases over two decades.

What Organs Were Studied?

The study measured the biological age of nine key organs, including:

• Heart
• Blood vessels
• Liver
• Immune system
• Pancreas
• Kidneys
• Lungs
• Intestines
• Brain

The researchers were able to find that different organs aged at different rates in different people. In many of the cases multiple organs showed signs of faster aging within the same individual. What is important to note is that those with accelerated aging in certain organs had a higher risk of developing 30 out of the 40 age-related diseases the study had tracked.

Organ Aging And Disease Risk

Some organ-disease connections were expected—people with rapidly aging lungs were more likely to develop respiratory diseases, and those with aging kidneys had an increased risk of kidney-related conditions. However, the study also found less obvious associations.

For example, individuals with fast-aging kidneys were more prone to diseases in other organs, such as the liver and pancreas. Additionally, multiple fast-aging organs were linked to an increased risk of kidney disease.

One of the most surprising findings was that dementia risk was not best predicted by an aging brain but rather by the immune system’s biological age. This suggests that factors such as chronic inflammation and immune health may play a critical role in neurodegenerative diseases.

What Is Organ Specific Blood Tests?

The study also highlights the important of the potential of developing blood tests that could assess the biological age of specific organs. Unlike previous complex methods that measured the organ health, this new approach could make things simple to detect early signs of disease.

The leader author of the study Mika Kivimaki, who is also a professor at the University College London's Faculty of Brain sciences pointed out that such tests could be helpful when it comes to guiding personalized healthcare. In a news release, Kivimaki said, "They could advise whether a person needs to take better care of a particular organ and potentially provide an early warning signal that they may be at risk of a particular disease."

The study reinforces the idea that aging does not affect all organs equally and that looking beyond chronological age could offer better insights into disease prevention. By understanding which organs are aging more rapidly, medical professionals may be able to recommend targeted interventions for individuals at higher risk of specific conditions. Future advancements in organ-specific blood testing could revolutionize how we detect and manage age-related diseases, potentially leading to more personalized healthcare strategies.

A new retrospective cohort study claims that men with low testosterone levels may face a greater risk of developing higher-grade disease; the data came from undergoing active surveillance (AS) for localised prostate cancer.

The study evaluated 924 men who participated in AS between 2005 and 2024 to find out if lower serum testosterone levels are connected with Grade Group (GG) progression.

The participants in this study had an average age of 63.6 years, with a mean baseline testosterone level of 394 ng/dL. About 29% of the patients at the AS had testosterone levels at ≤300 ng/dL, which was a benchmark to define low testosterone.

The study finds that having lower testosterone may lead to progression to GG2 disease and faster progression to GG3 or higher. The researchers found at the AS that men with testosterone levels ≤300 ng/dL had a 61% higher risk of higher progression than men with high testosterone levels.

What Is Prostate Cancer?

The gland in the male reproductive system that makes seminal fluid is the prostate. This is the most common type of slow-growing cancer in men, which sees the abnormal growth of cells in the gland; if detected early, it is very much curable. Some early-stage symptoms of the disease are blood in the urine or semen, trouble urinating, and erectile dysfunction, and if you’re asking yourself, why you?

You could probably blame age, family history, or lifestyle choices. While we cannot change the ‘why’, we can master the ‘how’ of finding the right treatment in time. Step 1: Rule out the possibility of cancer with a simple Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test.

In the last 10 years, technology and innovation have revolutionized the diagnostics and treatments of the disease. Scientists from across the world are working around the clock, making marked improvements in treating prostate cancer.

Multiple Sclerosis is a chronic and progressive neurological condition affecting an estimated 1.5–2 lakh people in India, and remains one of the country's most overlooked invisible disabilities.

Many of its symptoms, including fatigue, cognitive impairment, chronic pain, visual disturbances, and bladder dysfunction, are often not outwardly visible, contributing to delayed diagnosis, barriers to disability recognition, insurance challenges, and difficulties in accessing long-term care and support.

Declaration at National Policy Dialogue

In a significant step towards strengthening disability-inclusive healthcare and social protection in India, policymakers, neurologists, disability rights advocates, insurance stakeholders, and persons living with Multiple Sclerosis (MS) today endorsed a landmark 10-point Declaration on Invisible Disabilities and Gender at the National Policy Dialogue organized on the occasion of World Multiple Sclerosis Day 2026.

The National Policy Dialogue was held under the theme, "Shaping Policy. Advancing Access. Improving Lives."

"India has made significant progress in recognizing the rights of persons with disabilities, and conversations such as these are essential to ensuring that our laws, policies, and institutions continue to evolve in ways that better reflect the lived experiences of people affected by conditions such as MS," said Menaka Guruswamy, Member of Parliament, Rajya Sabha.

Also read: President Donald Trump Remains In Excellent Health, Says White House

Barriers to Care and Support

Experts from the Multiple Sclerosis Society of India (MSSI) stated that for people living with Multiple Sclerosis, the challenges often extend far beyond the disease itself.

Delayed access to insurance, high out-of-pocket costs, limited awareness of available entitlements, and the absence of comprehensive patient data continue to create barriers to timely care.

Thus, they expect the Declaration to catalyze stronger insurance inclusion, better access to support systems, and a more robust national understanding of the true burden of MS in India.

The 10-Point Declaration

The Declaration on Invisible Disabilities and Gender outlines a roadmap to strengthen implementation of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, and improve the inclusion of invisible neurological conditions within India's healthcare, disability, and welfare systems.

Key recommendations include:

• Recognition guidelines for invisible and episodic disabilities under the RPwD Act.
• Flexible disability certification for people with fluctuating conditions.
• Inclusion of MS and other chronic neurological conditions within National Health Mission care pathways.
• Expansion of the Indian MS Registry Network (IMSRN) into a broader national invisible disability registry.
• Affordable access to disease-modifying therapies and long-term neurological care.
• Expanded tele-neurology services across India.
• Gender-sensitive diagnosis and treatment pathways.
• Stronger digital monitoring of disability rights implementation.
• Inclusive workplace policies for invisible disabilities.
• A National Mission on Invisible Disabilities.

Call for Stronger Policy and Healthcare Support

The declaration reflects a growing consensus among stakeholders that India's healthcare and social protection systems must evolve to better address invisible conditions that significantly affect an individual's functional ability, quality of life, and socioeconomic participation.

"Multiple Sclerosis is a complex, unpredictable, and lifelong neurological condition that requires early diagnosis, timely intervention, and sustained access to advanced therapies. While often simplified for patient understanding, the clinical reality is far more challenging and demands a nuanced approach to treatment and long-term care," said Dr. R.K. Dhamija, Distinguished Neurologist, Director, IHBAS, and Chair, National Task Force, NITI Aayog Brain Health Initiative.

"Investing in neurological care is not merely a healthcare expenditure; it is an economic imperative that helps prevent irreversible disability, reduces long-term care costs, and enables people to remain active and productive," Dr. Dhamija added.

For many people, tobacco does not begin as an addiction; it starts as a habit woven into ordinary moments of daily life. A cigarette shared with friends, a smoke break during a stressful day, or chewing tobacco after meals can soon become a routine that feels difficult to avoid.

While these habits may seem harmless in the beginning, tobacco slowly affects nearly every organ in the body, often giving subtle warning signs long before a serious disease is diagnosed.

When The Body Starts Giving Signals

These effects rarely manifest suddenly and usually come after years of prolonged use. It is this slow progress that leads most tobacco users to believe that "I am fine." But there are unmistakable signs of some diseases brought about by the use of tobacco that ought not to be dismissed:

• The Persistent Cough: A cough that has lasted for more than two to three weeks, becomes progressively worse each day, and is associated with a wheeze.

• Unexplained Fatigue: A person feeling breathless or unnaturally tired after having climbed a couple of stairs or walking a short distance can easily attribute this to general fatigue.

• Weight Fluctuations: The unexplained drop in weight can also be caused by some diseases that tobacco is likely to inflict upon the body.

Changes Inside the Mouth

Oral cancer caused by tobacco often appears initially in the form of persistent mouth ulcers, white or red patches inside the mouth, and jaw stiffness. These painful and irritating conditions can be so subtle that a person is not concerned by them.

Persistent changes like the change in your voice pitch or constant throat irritation are not to be taken lightly, either; they could be signs of deeper problems arising. Seeking medical help when it is still in the superficial stages will not only decrease your chances of being treated with aggressive measures but may actually result in an easier way to fight the condition.

Beyond Lungs: Other Effects of the Illness

Tobacco affects much more than just the lungs, and many symptoms associated with chronic conditions often go unnoticed.

• Cardiovascular Strain: Dizziness and chest heaviness are indications of heart problems caused by the presence of toxins in the body.

• Physical Discomfort: Headaches or leg edema may sometimes be seen as manifestations of blood vessel disorders.

The Untapped Power of Prevention

The most important remedy at our disposal is not a complicated surgery but an accurate identification of such conditions at their superficial stage, allowing for minimal and non-invasive treatments.

The human body is an incredibly powerful machine at healing, and the instant the consumption of tobacco ceases, a chain of events kicks off that increases circulation and improves lung function.

If you ever find yourself dealing with a persistent cough, mouth ulcer, or undue fatigue, it is advisable to visit a specialist at the earliest to prevent future complications.

(By Dr Yash Mathur, Senior Head, Neck, Oral, and Robotic Onco-Surgeon at HCG Cancer Hospital, Borivali, Mumbai)