Add thelocalreport.in As A Trusted Source
New data was released Thursday from the world’s largest study of blood molecules. thousands of volunteers Scientists say that finger-prick tests can be done to detect many diseases years in advance.
researchers working with UK Biobank The participants have released the final set of data on the approximately 250 molecules in our blood that are produced during our lives, studying samples five lakh volunteers,
The UK Biobank is a large prospective study of over 500,000 men and women aged 40 to 69 between 2006 and 2010, which provides data. understanding the factors Affecting a wide range of diseases of middle age and later life.
A subset of this largest study to date analyzing patient blood molecules could help researchers better predict nearly a decade in advance who is at most risk for a number of conditions, including Alzheimer’s, heart disease and cancer, and could help drive treatment strategies.
Scientists in partnership with Nightingale Health assessed these metabolites in blood, including sugars, fats and amino acids, and have made the final list of these molecules available to researchers around the world.
“Metabolites are small molecules that are formed when the body breaks down the food we eat, the air we breathe and the medicines we take,” said Naomi Allen, chief scientist at UK Biobank.
“Studying metabolites is a powerful way to uncover new warning signs of disease, understand how diseases begin and develop, and track how well treatments are working,” Dr. Allen said.
Researchers say some data from the study has already been released in batches from 2021 and has led to scientific breakthroughs.
For example, metabolite data combined with other data from the UK Biobank has led to the development of a blood test Scientists say it is used in practice in France and Singapore to evaluate people’s risk of developing common diseases such as type 2 diabetes.
Sir Rory Collins, principal investigator at UK Biobank, said: “When combined with genetic, proteomic and imaging information, these data open up a new dimension of discovery, allowing scientists to study the combined effects of genes, proteins and environmental factors on our health, giving us new insights into a patient’s real-time condition.”
“It fits with the model of prevention we’re moving towards, being able to send a small blood sample and get an idea of your health,” Joy Edwards-Hicks, who studies age-related blood changes at the University of Edinburgh, told The Guardian.
Scientists say the latest findings could enhance the prediction of future diseases in patients based on blood tests, helping to identify those who would benefit most from early diagnosis and preventive treatment.
Population health researcher Michael Inouye said, “Metabolomic data at the scale of the UK Biobank, with their diverse and growing information on half a million volunteers, creates a unique cohort study in which scientists can make discoveries.” Cambridge University.
“Having all that data available to the global network of UK Biobank researchers means scientists around the world can uncover important insights into blood biomarkers and human health and test them in one of the largest medical research projects in the world,” said Jeffrey Barrett, chief scientific officer at Nightingale Health.