The IISc's BHARAT study aims to establish baseline health parameters for Indians, mapping physiological, molecular, and environmental aging indicators. This initiative addresses diagnostic gaps arising from Western-centric data, building an India-specific database to improve accurate diagnosis and treatment, particularly for age-related diseases, and leveraging AI for analysis.
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The Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, launched a large-scale study called BHARAT, to map the physiological, molecular, and environmental indicators that drive aging in the Indian population.
The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) has launched a research initiative called BHARAT (Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions), as part of its Longevity India Program, to establish baseline health parameters specific to the Indian population, to address gaps in global health research.
Ageing is a complex biological process influenced by molecular and cellular interactions, as well as environmental, lifestyle, and socioeconomic factors. An individual's chronological age often does not truly reflect their biological age or how old their body actually is.
Researchers identify "biomarkers" as reliable biological clues that indicate how old our bodies are and how they respond to factors like diet and exercise. These biomarkers can be genetic, molecular, or physiological indicators.
Inadequate Data for Indians => Lack of clear information on what features define or influence healthy ageing specifically within the Indian population.
Mismatched Diagnostic Tools => Diagnostic tools, biomarkers, and even treatments developed based on Western populations may not be optimal or accurate for people in India or other non-Western countries.
Misdiagnosis and Ineffective Treatment => Applying Western-derived cut-offs for biomarkers (like cholesterol, vitamin D, or B12) can lead to misdiagnosis or treatments that are not effective, as diseases may progress or respond differently in diverse populations.
Rising Disease Burden => While India's life expectancy has risen significantly, this does not automatically translate to healthier living. Predictions show a substantial increase in age-related diseases like Parkinson's and dementia in India by 2050.
Mapping Indicators => The study maps the physiological, molecular, and environmental indicators that drive ageing in the Indian population.
Establishing Bharat Baseline => The Goal is to build the "Bharat Baseline," which serves as a reliable reference for what is considered "normal" in the Indian population concerning various health parameters and biomarkers.
Comprehensive Data Collection => BHARAT's database includes:
Researchers to use Artificial Intelligence (AI) and machine learning models to integrate and analyze vast, multi-dimensional datasets.
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