blood type and aging: what scientists are beginning to discover For most of our lives, we think about blood type…

A doctor may ask whether someone has type A, B, AB, or O. Blood type matters during transfusions, pregnancy-related care, organ transplantation, and certain medical procedures.

But scientists have also been investigating another interesting question:

Could blood type be associated with certain health conditions that become more common as we get older?

The answer is more complicated than many headlines suggest.

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Research over the past several decades has identified associations between the ABO blood group system and conditions involving blood clotting, cardiovascular health, infections, and certain cancers. These findings have attracted attention because many of these conditions are also influenced by age.

However, there is an important distinction between saying that a blood type is associated with a particular health risk and saying that it determines how quickly a person ages.

There is currently no simple blood-type formula that can tell you how fast you will age.

A person’s overall health and longevity are influenced by many interacting factors, including genetics, physical activity, nutrition, smoking, alcohol use, sleep, environmental exposures, socioeconomic circumstances, medical care, and existing health conditions.

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Still, the relationship between blood type and disease risk is scientifically interesting—and understanding it requires looking beyond the viral claims that often circulate online.

what exactly is blood type?

Your blood type is determined by specific molecules called antigens found on the surface of red blood cells.

The best-known system is the ABO blood group system, which divides people into four major categories: A, B, AB, and O.

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People with type A blood have A antigens, while people with type B have B antigens. People with type AB have both, and people with type O do not have A or B antigens on their red blood cells.

There is also the Rh blood group system, which is why you may hear someone described as A-positive or O-negative.