Pregnancy lab test dynamics resemble rejuvenation of some organs and aging of others.
Abstract
Pregnancy and aging are associated with stress on the body and show multi-system physiological changes. We asked whether we can learn about aging from the changes in pregnancy. To do so, we analyzed weekly cross-sectional data on 70 lab tests from 300,000 pregnancies and 1.4 million non-pregnant females aged 20-89. Using a biological age model trained on non-pregnant females, we observed that pregnant females' apparent age dropped by 5 years in the first trimester, rose by 20 years toward delivery, and recovered postpartum. Pregnancy complications increased apparent age by 2-6 years. Certain systems exhibited apparent rejuvenation - opposite trends in pregnancy vs aging - including renal, iron, and most liver tests. Others, such as coagulation, thyroid, muscle, and metabolism, showed apparent aging. Notably, the aging-like mechanisms of pregnancy differed from normal aging, suggesting superficial similarity, whereas the rejuvenation-like mechanisms may offer clues for slowing aspects of biological aging.
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Research summary
The paper claims that pregnancy induces dynamic changes in biological age, with some systems showing rejuvenation and others aging. This research is relevant as it explores the mechanisms of aging and rejuvenation, potentially offering insights into biological aging and lifespan extension.
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