By Diagnostics World News Staff
January 14, 2026 | Researchers in the University of Surry (UK) have identified a set of blood-based protein signals that may foreshadow an individual’s risk of death five to 10 years before it occurs. This discovery carries promise for next-generation diagnostics aimed at early risk detection rather than disease diagnosis.
The research team, led by Nophar Geifman, Ph.D., professor of health and biomedical informatics, analyzed blood samples from more than 38,000 participants in the UK Biobank who were recruited 15 to 19 years ago and aged 40 to 69. By examining roughly 3,000 circulating proteins per individual, the researchers sought molecular signatures associated with early mortality, excluding accidents. Their findings were published in PLOS One (DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0336845).
Across multiple statistical models and time horizons, five proteins (PLAUR, SERPINA3, CRIM1, DDR1, and LTBP2) consistently emerged as the strongest predictors. These proteins are known to be involved in inflammation, tissue remodeling, and cancer-related pathways, lending biological plausibility to their association with increased mortality risk. Importantly, the signals appeared regardless of whether the analysis adjusted only for age, sex, and body mass index or also accounted for lifestyle factors, such as smoking and physical activity.
The study highlights a shift away from single-disease biomarkers toward multiplex protein panels that capture broader physiological stress and vulnerability. The protein signature predicts overall risk across causes of death. This approach addresses a key challenge in aging populations, where individuals often develop multiple chronic conditions simultaneously, and traditional diagnostics struggle with overlapping symptoms, disease subtypes, and diagnostic inaccuracy.
Geifman emphasized that the findings are “in no way deterministic.” The study does not establish whether the proteins play a causal role in mortality or merely reflect underlying disease processes already in motion. Nevertheless, the work points toward a new class of preventive diagnostics. Not only can it provide early intervention, but it could also help individuals who might benefit from intensified monitoring or lifestyle interventions before diseases development.