title: Three-dimensional human facial morphologies as robust aging markers.
abstract: Aging is associated with many complex diseases. Reliable prediction of the aging process is important for assessing the risks of aging-associated diseases. However, despite intense research, so far there is no reliable aging marker. Here we addressed this problem by examining whether human 3D facial imaging features could be used as reliable aging markers. We collected > 300 3D human facial images and blood profiles well-distributed across ages of 17 to 77 years. By analyzing the morphological profiles, we generated the first comprehensive map of the aging human facial phenome. We identified quantitative facial features, such as eye slopes, highly associated with age. We constructed a robust age predictor and found that on average people of the same chronological age differ by ± 6 years in facial age, with the deviations increasing after age 40. Using this predictor, we identified slow and fast agers that are significantly supported by levels of health indicators. Despite a close relationship between facial morphological features and health indicators in the blood, facial features are more reliable aging biomarkers than blood profiles and can better reflect the general health status than chronological age.
authors.affiliation: 1] Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China [2] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Weiyang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: 1] Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China [2] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Qian
authors.affiliation: Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wu
authors.affiliation: 1] Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China [2] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Weizhong
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Xian
authors.affiliation: 1] Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China [2] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Xingwei
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: 1] Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China [2] University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
authors.forename: Yaqiang
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Christopher D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Green
authors.affiliation: Beijing Centers for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) & Centers for Preventive Medical Research, Beijing 100013, China.
authors.forename: Fanghong
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Zhao
authors.affiliation: Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China.
authors.forename: Kun
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: 1] Chinese Academy of Sciences Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences-Max Planck Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China [2] Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics and Developmental Biology, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China.
authors.forename: Jing-Dong J
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Han
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers; D005145:Face / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D021621:Imaging, Three-Dimensional / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers
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