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Updated: Jun 20, 2026
19:16
The Importance of Correct Protein Concentration for Kinetics and Affinity Determination in Structure-function Analysis
Published on: March 17, 2010
Age and cystatin C in healthy adults: a collaborative study
Michelle C Odden1, Ira B Tager, Ron T Gansevoort
1Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA. michelle.odden@ucsf.edu
Summary
Kidney function declines with age, even in healthy individuals. This decline is non-linear and more pronounced in older adults, highlighting the need for further research into underlying mechanisms.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Nephrology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Kidney function naturally declines with age, often exacerbated by common risk factors for kidney disease.
- The specific impact of aging on kidney function in healthy individuals across a broad age range remains unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between age and kidney function in a large, diverse population.
- To determine if age impacts kidney function independently of common clinical risk factors.
Main Methods:
- Pooled data from 18,253 participants aged 28-100 years across four major studies.
- Kidney function assessed using cystatin C levels.
- Evaluated clinical risk factors including diabetes, hypertension, obesity, and cardiovascular diseases.
Main Results:
- A significant, non-linear relationship was observed between age and cystatin C levels.
- Individuals aged 80+ had 46% higher cystatin C than those under 40, even without known risk factors.
- The presence of risk factors amplified the age-related decline in kidney function.
Conclusions:
- Age is strongly and non-linearly associated with reduced kidney function, irrespective of health status.
- Further research is warranted to elucidate the mechanisms driving kidney function decline in apparently healthy aging individuals.
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