The most important longevity term you’ve probably never heard of

Intrinsic capacity is a comprehensive metric being developed to assess human ageing in a holistic manner. This approach aims to capture various aspects of an individual's health, including physical strength, cognitive function, sensory abilities, psychological well-being, and overall vitality. Dr. John Beard, a professor specializing in productive ageing at Columbia University, explains that intrinsic capacity is a scientific concept that encompasses all attributes attributed to an individual from their skin to their functioning.

While not a widely known term yet, intrinsic capacity is gaining traction among longevity scientists as a potential key to understanding the effectiveness of interventions aimed at slowing down the ageing process. Currently, intrinsic capacity is measured through five subdomains - cognition, locomotion, sensory capacity, psychological well-being, and vitality.

These measurements are often already used in clinical settings to evaluate older adults' health. Notably, intrinsic capacity has been shown to correlate with the risk of disability and mortality in older adults. However, the real clinical value lies in observing a person's intrinsic capacity over time, which could help detect early signs of decline and enable preventive measures.

While the concept is primarily used for older adults, scientists are exploring ways to apply it to younger individuals as well. In clinical trials, including a real-world experiment in France, older adults are regularly assessed and provided with personalized recommendations based on their intrinsic capacity score. If the score declines, they are promptly referred to a doctor or geriatric nurse for further evaluation and treatment.

The effectiveness of early intervention based on intrinsic capacity scores is yet to be determined, but scientists hope it will ultimately contribute to extending health span and potentially lead to the development of FDA-approved longevity medications.