France and US study “intrinsic capacity” indicator to assess aging
In France and the United States, researchers are studying “intrinsic capacity” — a comprehensive measure of a person’s physical and mental capabilities. As Channel NewsAsia reports, this approach could potentially help doctors track changes in health over time and assess the effectiveness of measures aimed at slowing aging.
Five components of the indicator
The World Health Organization formally defined the term in 2015 as part of its healthy aging initiative. Its goal is to shift the focus of medicine and science from treating individual diseases to preserving and maximizing the functional abilities of older people.
Intrinsic capacity is assessed across five domains: cognitive abilities, locomotion — strength and mobility, sensory functions including vision and hearing, psychological well-being, and vitality. The latter encompasses overall energy levels and resilience to physical stressors. Assessments may use tests already applied in geriatric medicine, including grip-strength measurements and walking-speed tests.
Studies indicate a link between intrinsic capacity and the risk of disability and death among older people. According to specialists, tracking this indicator over time may have particular clinical value: it could help detect signs of deterioration earlier and take measures to stop or slow it.
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Research in France and the United States
A practical study is underway in France, in which older participants regularly complete questionnaires to assess intrinsic capacity and receive personalized recommendations. If the indicator begins to decline, a person is referred to a doctor or a trained geriatric nurse for further examinations and treatment. A similar study, the first in the United States, was recently launched in New Mexico.
Scientists do not yet have data proving that early intervention based on such an assessment extends life. At the same time, a program to study intrinsic capacity is funded by the US Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health, ARPA-H. Its participants plan to examine whether the indicator corresponds to how a person feels, functions, and how long they live, as well as whether it can be improved through exercise or existing GLP-1-class drugs, which are attributed with a possible effect on longevity.
Researchers view intrinsic capacity as a possible indicator for trials of drugs targeting the aging process. In 2022, the WHO added the concept of “age-related decline in intrinsic capacity” to the 11th revision of the International Classification of Diseases.
