HQ Team
March 16, 2026: Six small ribonucleic acid (RNA) molecules in the blood may be able to predict short-term survival with an 86% accuracy, a study finds.
The tiny molecules may help pinpoint which older adults are likely to survive the next two years better than many traditional health parameters, according to researchers at Duke University and the University of Minnesota.
In a study of more than 1,200 people 71 and older, these molecules, called as piRNAs, were linked to survival, said rheumatologist Virginia Byers Kraus of Duke University. Earlier research tried to predict how long older adults might live based on other health factors, such as diseases, age, cholesterol, and mobility.
Researchers at Duke University discovered that a blood test measuring these tiny piRNA molecules could predict survival with high accuracy. Deploying five piRNAs along with two simple health measures improved accuracy.
PiRNAs, short for piwi-interacting RNAs, help regulate genes involved in development, tissue repair and immune function.
Lower levels
People with lower levels of certain piRNAs in their blood tend to live longer, as these molecules help control genes. Originally, they were known for protecting DNA from harmful elements.
New evidence suggests they may also affect cellular stress responses, ageing processes, immune system regulation and cell death and repair — all of which play a vital role in how the body ages.
In animal studies, reducing piRNA levels doubled lifespan in worms and increased survival rates in fruit flies.
The study found that another group of small RNAs, miRNAs, were linked to survival. They help control protein balance in cells, stem cell health and stress responses. MiRNAs also protect muscles, support cartilage repair and reduce inflammation. These play a crucial role in ageing and recovery.
Currently, methods to test ‘biological age’ include DNA methylation and telomere length. The Duke research could help to predict health risks, estimate survival chances and understand ageing at the molecular level.
New treatments
When the researchers tweaked patients’ piRNA levels to ideal levels during computer simulations, the predicted two-year survival increased from roughly 47% to nearly 100%.
While the research used advanced statistical methods to find likely causes of survival and tested the model on separate groups of people, scientists have not fully understood how piRNAs work in the body. Predicting exactly which genes they affect is difficult.
Also, most laboratory experiments need to confirm their biological roles.
Kraus and her team plan to explore piRNA patterns across people ages 30 to 100 and test whether interventions such as the diabetes drug metformin or GLP-1 drugs could modify RNA levels and improve health outcomes.
The researchers hope to identify which RNA patterns signal higher risk and who might benefit most if such treatments eventually reach the clinic. These piRNAs could become the new biomarkers of ageing and reveal how ageing works at the molecular level.
It can lead to the development of new treatments to promote healthy ageing.
