Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
The Ageing BIOmarker Study in Singaporeans (ABIOS) aims to understand the biological aging processes and how they affect health among people in Singapore. As people grow older, their risk of developing chronic diseases increases. This study aims to better understand the biological changes that come with age, particularly in three major ethnic groups: Chinese, Malay, and Indian adults over 21 years old. By examining a range of health indicators such as DNA methylation, inflammation, metabolism, cardiovascular health, physical function, and physical activity (i.e., molecular, physiological, and digital biomarkers of ageing), the study seeks to identify how ethnicity, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors influence ageing. This unique study focuses on an all-Asian population, aiming to enhance our understanding of healthy aging across different ethnic groups.
Biological ageing is the primary driver of age-associated chronic diseases in older adults. Asian populations have been underrepresented in studies developing biological age predictors and understanding age-related diseases. Thus, the Ageing BIOmarker Study in Singaporeans (ABIOS) aims to characterise the biomarkers of ageing in Singaporeans, exploring associations between molecular, physiological, and digital biomarkers of ageing.
This is a single-centre, cross-sectional study that recruits healthy community-dwelling adults (≥ 21 years) from three different ethnic groups (Chinese, Malay, and Indian). Molecular biomarkers of ageing include a multi-omics approach, such as DNA methylation and metabolic and inflammatory parameters in blood, saliva, and stool. Physiological biomarkers of ageing include bone density, body composition, skin autofluorescence, arterial stiffness, physical performance (e.g., muscle strength and flexibility), cognition, and nutritional status. Digital biomarkers of ageing include three-dimensional facial morphology and objective physical activity. Additional factors such as habitual physical activity, dietary patterns, and medical history are also examined. The associations between the molecular, physiological, and digital phenotypes will be explored.
By examining diverse age-related biomarkers, clinical indicators, and lifestyle factors, ABIOS will offer unique insights into the ageing process within these ethnic groups to develop health policies and interventions for promoting healthy ageing in an all-Asian population.
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
| Label | Type | Description | Intervention Names |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singaporean adults | Adults greater than 21 years of age living in Singapore of Chinese, Malay, or Indian ethnicity. |
Not provided
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| blood DNA methylation | DNA methylation ageing clock, years | Baseline |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Carotid-femoral Pulse Wave Velocity | Arterial stiffness measured by pulse wave velocity, m/s | Baseline |
| Handgrip strength | Handgrip strength measured by dynamometer, kg |
| Measure | Description | Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
| Blood pressure | Central and brachial blood pressure measurements, mmHg | Baseline |
| Waist-to-hip ratio | Waist-to-hip circumference ratio | Baseline |
Inclusion Criteria:
≥21 years of age
Chinese, Malay, or Indian and has lived in Singapore for at least 5 consecutive years
Apparently healthy and non-smokers
Having only 1 condition (if ≥45 and <65 years) or any condition (if ≥65 years), and all conditions were medication-controlled (if any):
Exclusion Criteria:
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Adults 21 years of age or greater who has lived in Singapore for at least 5 consecutive years and is of Chinese, Malay, or Indian ethnicity
Not provided
| Name | Affiliation | Role |
|---|---|---|
| Andrea Maier, MD, PhD | National University of Singapore | Principal Investigator |
| Facility | Status | City | State | ZIP | Country | Contacts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Centre for Healthy Longevity at Alexandra Hospital | Singapore | 159964 | Singapore |
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Not provided
Blood (serum, plasma, buffy, peripheral blood mononuclear cells), saliva (whole), and stool (whole) samples.
| Baseline |
| 8-repetition maximal strength | Lower body strength measured by maximum weight for 8 leg extension repetitions, kg | Baseline |
| Skin advanced glycation endproducts | Skin advanced glycation endproducts measured by autofluorescence | Baseline |
| Objective physical activity | Objective physical activity measured by an activity tracking monitor | Baseline |
| Facial age | Facial ageing clock based on 3D face morphometry, years | Baseline |
| Complete red blood cell (RBC) count | Clinical blood parameters, RBC x 10^12/L | Baseline |
| Total white blood cell (WBC) count | Clinical blood parameters, WBC x 10^9/L | Baseline |
| Total cholesterol | Lipid profile panel, mmol/L | Baseline |
| HDL cholesterol | Lipid profile panel, mmol/L | Baseline |
| LDL cholesterol | Lipid profile panel, mmol/L | Baseline |
| Triglycerides | Lipid profile panel, mmol/L | Baseline |
| Fasting blood glucose | Clinical blood parameters, mmol/L | Baseline |
| Total protein | Liver profile panel, mmol/L | Baseline |
| Total bilirubin | Liver profile panel, umol/L | Baseline |
| Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) | Clinical blood parameters, U/L | Baseline |
| Insulin | Clinical blood parameters, Roche immunoassay, mU/L | Baseline |
| HbA1c | Clinical blood parameters, % | Baseline |
| Bone mineral density | Bone mineral density measured by DEXA scan, g/cm^2 | Baseline |
| Fat-free mass | Fat-free mass measured by DEXA scan, kg | Baseline |
| Fat mass | Fat mass measured by DEXA scan, kg | Baseline |
| Arm curl repetitions | Number of arm curl repetitions at a certain weight in 30 seconds | Baseline |
| Backscratch test | Backscratch test to assess upper body flexibility, distance between fingers in cm | Baseline |
| Sit-to-stand repeitions | Number of chair sit-to-stand repetitions in 30 seconds | Baseline |
| 4-metre walk | Time it takes for the participant to walk 4 metres, seconds | Baseline |
| Habitual physical activity | Habitual physical activity patterns reflected by the Global Physical Activity Questionnaire | Baseline |
| Cognitive function | Cognitive function test assessed by the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), ranging from 0 to 30 | Baseline |
| Frailty | Frailty assessed by the FRAIL scale (fatigue, resistance, aerobic capacity, illnesses, and loss of weight), with three categories: robust (score=0), prefrail (score=1-2), and frail (score=3-5) | Baseline |
| Risk of malnutrition | Risk of malnutrition assessed by the Mini Nutritional Assessment (MNA), with three categories: malnourished (0-7 points), at risk of malnutrition (8-11 points), normal nutritional status (12-14 points) | Baseline |
| Saliva DNA methylation status | DNA methylation ageing clock, years | Baseline |