Protein Signature Associated with Mortality Risk Found

By Integrative Practitioner Staff

Researchers at the University of Surrey (UK) have identified a biological signal in blood that may indicate an increased risk of death five to 10 years before it occurs. The discovery emerged from efforts to find blood-based markers of multi-morbidity and was based on large-scale data analysis rather than a clinically validated test. According to Nophar Geifman, Ph.D., professor of health and biomedical informatics, the findings are not a clinically validated predictive test, but they could eventually help motivate preventive health behaviors and earlier interventions.

Across multiple analyses, five proteins—PLAUR, SERPINA3, CRIM1, DDR1, and LTBP2—consistently appeared as strongly associated with mortality risk, regardless of cause of death or statistical approach. These proteins are known to be involved in inflammation, tissue remodeling, and cancer-related processes, making their association with increased mortality biologically plausible.

The study, published in PLOS One (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0336845), analyzed blood protein profiles from more than 38,000 participants who were recruited 15 to 19 years ago in the UK Biobank. Participants were 40 to 69. Researchers examined roughly 3,000 circulating proteins to determine which were associated with death within five or 10 years, excluding accidental causes. Hundreds of proteins showed statistically significant associations, but a much smaller subset stood out when predictive models were built and adjusted for factors such as age, sex, body mass index, smoking, and physical activity.

Further analyses revealed that different protein signatures were associated with specific causes of death, such as cardiovascular disease and cancer, with some overlap between them. Ultimately, five proteins emerged as the most robust indicators of mortality risk across timeframes and causes. While the study does not establish causality, it opens the door for future research into whether these proteins are drivers of disease or early markers of underlying health decline.

It must be stressed that the newly identified protein signature is not deterministic. Even individuals at higher risk can meaningfully improve their health trajectory through well-established lifestyle changes such as improved diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and preventive care. The results show that biology provides signals of risk, but people retain substantial control over their long-term health outcomes.

To read the full story written by Deborah Borfitz, visit Bio-IT World News.