Longitudinal dynamics of gene expression and metabolomics in an aging population cohort
- Julia S. El-Sayed Moustafa
- Anna Ramisch
- Yasrab N. Raza
- Gwenael G. R. Leday
- Yunlong Jiao
- Dongmeng Wang
- Michael Stevens
- Amy L. Roberts
- Max Tomlinson
- Xinyu Yan
- Elizabeth Ing-Simmons
- Samuel Wadge
- Moustafa Abdalla
- Mario Falchi
- Christopher C. Holmes
- Cristina Menni
- George Nicholson
- Mark I. McCarthy
- Emmanouil T. Dermitzakis
- Sylvia Richardson
- Tim D. Spector
- Kerrin S. Small
2026-09-03
Multiomic profiling provides a comprehensive physiological overview at the molecular level, but understanding of its spatiotemporal dynamics remains limited in human populations. We profiled longitudinal whole-blood gene expression and metabolite levels in 335 females over 8 years. Levels of 5061 genes and 181 metabolites changed over time, with individual trajectories often diverging from population-level trends. Longitudinally variable genes showed cell type specificity and enrichment for aging-relevant pathways, including cardiometabolic and neurodegenerative disorders. Longitudinal trajectories were further shaped by genetics, circadian rhythm, seasonality, and environmental pollutant exposures. Integrative analyses revealed extensive static and time-variable cross-omic connectivity. Longitudinal profiling offers insight into the temporal evolution of age-related conditions at the molecular level, and understanding individual variation within these longitudinal patterns will be essential for future precision medicine approaches.