Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 and Survival in the Elderly: Polsenior2 Study Results

BUFFALO, NY- October 17, 2024 – A new #research paper was #published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science), Volume 16, Issue 19 on September 18, 2024, entitled, “Fibroblast growth factor 21 inversely correlates with survival in elderly population – the results of the Polsenior2 study.” As noted in the abstract, fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) is a liver-secreted hormone involved in regulating lipid, glucose, and energy metabolism. Its serum concentration increases with age and is elevated in various diseases. FGF21 is currently being investigated for its potential as a biomarker and therapeutic target. In their paper, Polish researchers Gabriela Handzlik, Aleksander J. Owczarek, Andrzej Więcek, Małgorzata Mossakowska, Tomasz Zdrojewski, Anna Chudek, Magdalena Olszanecka-Glinianowicz, and Jerzy Chudek from the Medical University of Silesia in Katowice, the International Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology in Warsaw, and the Medical University of Gdansk aimed to assess the prognostic value of FGF21 in an older, population-based cohort from the PolSenior2 study. The researchers report that in a sub-analysis of 3,512 individuals aged 60 and older, stratified into tertiles based on FGF21 levels, the survival estimate was worse in participants with middle and high FGF21 levels compared to those in the lowest tertile. These findings were supported by univariable Cox regression analysis, where participants in the middle and high FGF21 tertiles, after adjusting for age, had a 1.43-fold (HR 1.31; 95% CI, 1.05–1.62) and 2.56-fold (HR 1.94; 95% CI, 1.59–2.37) increased risk of mortality, respectively, compared to the lowest tertile. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, the highest FGF21 levels were independently associated with increased mortality (HR 1.53; 95% CI, 1.22–1.92), regardless of co-morbidities and blood parameters. "These results indicate that higher serum FGF21 concentration is an independent predictor of all-cause mortality in the general population of older adults.” DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206114 Corresponding author - Gabriela Handzlik - ghandzlik@sum.edu.pl Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QkPrI68nbLE Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://aging.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Faging.206114 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Aging - https://www.aging-us.com/subscribe-to-toc-alerts Keywords - aging, fibroblast growth factor 21, survival, population-based study, longevity About Aging-US The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population. The journal aims to promote 1) treatment of age-related diseases by slowing down aging, 2) validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases, and 3) prevention of cancer by inhibiting aging. (Cancer and COVID-19 are age-related diseases.) Please visit our website at https://www.Aging-US.com​​ and connect with us: Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/AgingUS/ X - https://twitter.com/AgingJrnl Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/agingjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@AgingJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/aging/ Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/AgingUS/ Spotify - https://open.spotify.com/show/1X4HQQgegjReaf6Mozn6Mc MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM