Dubai: Doctors have observed a growing discrepancy between chronological and biological age among young patients aged 35 and under.
They said there has been a clear change in the diseases being seen in younger age groups, with conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure now appearing in people under 30.
They warned of 12 factors that can accelerate ageing of the body and brain and increase the risk of chronic diseases and cognitive decline at an early age: smoking, obesity, physical inactivity, poor nutrition, sleep disturbances, chronic low-grade inflammation, oxidative stress and the accumulation of cellular damage, air pollution, daily stress, genetic factors, metabolic disorders, and social isolation and untreated depression.
They stressed that continued exposure to some of these factors over many years can affect the efficiency of the body’s organs and functions.
Consultant in internal medicine Dr Iman Abi Al-Surur said there is currently no single approved test that can accurately determine biological age or diagnose “premature ageing” in a healthy person, despite research into epigenetic age, telomere length and some inflammatory markers.
She explained that the most useful practical assessments focus on indicators that help predict disease risk, including blood pressure, glycated haemoglobin, blood lipids and cholesterol, waist circumference and body mass index. Kidney and liver function should also be assessed when medically necessary.
She added that inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein (CRP) may be useful in certain medical conditions but are non-specific and should not be used alone as a test for ageing.
She stressed that additional screening and early cancer detection should be based on age, sex, family history and individual risk factors rather than a uniform list of tests for everyone.
Dr Abi Al-Surur explained that chronological and biological age are different concepts and that the rate of age-related changes varies considerably between individuals.
A person in their 30s may have high blood pressure, insulin resistance or diabetes, high cholesterol, visceral obesity, low cardiorespiratory fitness or reduced muscle mass, she said. These are factors that would usually be expected to increase with age.
She added that smoking, air pollution, poor nutrition, physical inactivity, obesity and metabolic disorders can increase the risk of early-onset heart disease, diabetes, respiratory diseases and other chronic illnesses.
She explained that smoking exposes the body to toxic and oxidising substances that damage cells and blood vessels and increase inflammation, while chronic sleep deprivation is linked to disruption of the regulation of immunity, hormones and metabolism.
She recommended an integrated approach to a healthy lifestyle, including eating vegetables, fruit, whole grains, legumes, nuts, protein sources and unsaturated fats, while reducing ultra-processed foods, sugars, trans fats and excessive salt.
She also recommended regular physical activity and muscle-strengthening exercises, adequate sleep, avoiding smoking, maintaining a healthy weight and properly managing chronic diseases.
Body functions
Consultant in internal medicine Dr Mustafa Al-Alwan said a person’s “biological age” reflects the condition of their body and how effectively their organs function, rather than simply the number of years recorded on official documents.
He explained that doctors frequently encounter cases in which a 35-year-old’s health assessment shows that their heart, blood vessels, kidneys or level of physical fitness resemble those of someone 10 or 20 years older.
He said the emergence of diseases previously associated with ageing among people aged 20 to 40 is mainly attributed to changes in lifestyle.
Many young people spend long hours in front of screens while getting less physical activity and relying more heavily on fast food and sweetened drinks, alongside insufficient sleep and daily stress, he said.
Dr Al-Alwan stressed that these factors have contributed to increased obesity and metabolic disorders, resulting in high blood pressure, diabetes and even heart disease being diagnosed at much younger ages than in previous years.
He explained that the body has a remarkable ability to repair itself. However, continued exposure to harmful factors such as smoking, obesity, chronic inflammation and poor nutrition places this system under stress.
Damage gradually accumulates within cells and the efficiency of organs declines over time, allowing signs of ageing and chronic disease to emerge earlier, he said.
Ageing, he stressed, is not a sudden event but a biological process that develops over many years.
Dr Al-Alwan said there has been a clear change in the types of diseases seen in clinics. Diabetes and high blood pressure were previously more common after the age of 50, whereas they are now being diagnosed in people in their 30s and sometimes even younger.
This shift, he said, is largely related to daily lifestyle rather than chronological age itself.
He warned that obesity does not merely affect physical appearance. Its negative effects extend to almost every organ in the body because it increases chronic inflammation and insulin resistance and places additional strain on the heart, joints and liver.
Dr Al-Alwan said it is possible in many cases to slow or reverse some indicators of premature ageing, particularly with early intervention.
He added that patients can show clear improvements after losing weight, exercising regularly, improving sleep quality and quitting smoking, alongside careful management of blood sugar, blood pressure and cholesterol.
The real goal of medicine, he stressed, is not to stop time but to maintain the body’s efficiency for longer.
Psychological problems
Consultant psychiatrist Dr Amal Atwa Ibrahim said protecting cognitive health as people age begins before symptoms appear.
She explained that ageing is a natural process but cognitive decline is not an inevitable consequence. Mental stimulation, social interaction and early detection of cognitive impairment can help maintain brain function and reduce some of the risks of cognitive decline and dementia.
She said social isolation, loneliness and untreated depression may be associated with poorer cognitive health and the earlier onset of memory and concentration problems in some people.
She added that the effects are not limited to psychological wellbeing but can extend to brain health and a person’s ability to carry out everyday activities and interact socially.
Dr Ibrahim explained that persistent isolation and avoidance of social activities, combined with neglecting symptoms of depression, may deprive people of important mental and social stimulation needed to maintain cognitive abilities.
She said regular contact with family, friends and the wider community, along with activities requiring thought and learning, such as reading, solving puzzles and acquiring new skills, can help stimulate the brain and support what is known as cognitive reserve.
Dr Ibrahim said warning signs include frequently forgetting recent events, repeatedly asking the same questions, difficulty managing finances or completing routine tasks, becoming lost in familiar places and withdrawing socially.
She stressed the importance of seeking an early medical assessment when such signs appear because some causes of memory and concentration problems are treatable. Early diagnosis can also help improve quality of life and maintain independence.
She also urged people to look after their mental health, seek help for symptoms of depression, maintain social connections, exercise, get adequate sleep and manage their blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol levels. These factors, she said, are particularly important for supporting brain health in people over 50.
Immune ageing
Dr Abi Al-Surur said researchers use the term “inflammageing” to describe chronic, low-grade inflammation associated with ageing.
She stressed that it is not a disease in itself but a biological phenomenon associated with an increased likelihood of several age-related diseases, including heart disease, diabetes and some neurodegenerative conditions.
She explained that the relationship between inflammation and ageing works in both directions. Inflammation may contribute to cellular ageing, while senescent cells can secrete substances that increase inflammation within the body.
Dr Abi Al-Surur added that ageing is accompanied by gradual changes in immune system function, known as “immunosenescence” or immune ageing, involving changes to both innate and acquired immunity.
She said these changes may make the body less efficient at responding to certain infections and developing a strong immune response to new pathogens. Responses to some vaccines may also decline.
Dr Abi Al-Surur stressed that immune ageing does not simply mean weakened immunity. It can also involve immune imbalance and chronic low-grade inflammation, making it more important to maintain immune balance than simply attempting to “strengthen” the immune system.