Pregnancy lab test dynamics resemble rejuvenation of some organs and aging of others

Abstract

Aging and pregnancy both involve changes in many physiological systems. Some of these changes are similar, leading to suggestions that pregnancy may be a model for aging. Recent studies using DNA methylation clocks showed apparent aging during gestation which resolves postpartum. Since aging and pregnancy are complex, it is important to compare them in terms of many physiological parameters and at many time points. Here, we analyzed cross-sectional data on 62 lab tests at weekly resolution in 300,000 pregnancies and 1.4 million nonpregnant females aged 20-80. We trained a regression model to predict age from lab tests. Apparent age dropped by 8 years in early pregnancy, rose by 30 years towards delivery, and recovered postpartum. Certain systems exhibited rejuvenation, with opposite trends in pregnancy and aging, including renal, iron, and most liver tests. Others, such as coagulation, thyroid, muscle, and metabolic systems, showed apparent aging. Some systems displayed mixed trends. Notably, in the systems that showed apparent aging, the physiological mechanisms for the changes differed between pregnancy and aging. Pregnancy complications led to an additional apparent aging of 4-8 years. We conclude that pregnancy has features of rejuvenation for some systems, but its aging-like features involve different mechanisms than true aging. Gestational rejuvenation-like mechanisms may offer clues for slowing aspects of biological aging.