A panel of multibiomarkers of inflammation, fibrosis, and catabolism is normal in healthy centenarians but has high values in young patients with myocardial infarction.

OBJECTIVES: Frailty confers a poor prognosis as it portends an increased risk of disability, dependence, and mortality. Although frailty is generally associated with aging, a marked interindividual variability exists. We compared a range of serum biomarkers of inflammation, fibrosis, and catabolism in three distinct cohorts, consisting of young patients with myocardial infarction, age-matched healthy volunteers, and disease-free centenarians.

STUDY DESIGN: Prospective observational registry study.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Serum levels of five biomarkers were measured in the three study groups.

RESULTS: Disease-free centenarians had significantly lower (all p < 0.01) serum biomarker levels than young patients with myocardial infarction (growth differentiation factor 15: 877 ± 299 vs. 1062 ± 358 pg/mL; matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1: 1.7 ± 0.9 vs. 3.2 ± 1.2 ng/mL; MMP-2 174 ± 38 vs. 214 ± 44 ng/mL; MMP-9 325 ± 73 vs. 407 ± 54 ng/mL; and carboxy-terminal telopeptide of collagen type I: 3.3 ± 1 vs. 4.2 ± 1.3 ng/mL). No significant differences in biomarker concentrations between healthy controls and centenarians were identified.

CONCLUSIONS: Disease-free centenarians had significantly lower levels of inflammation, fibrosis, and catabolism biomarkers than young patients with myocardial infarction. Advanced aging per se is not invariably associated with these biomarkers.