There are 3 papers on total branched-chain amino acids in aging research: 4 observational studies in people. The newest story, Nov 7, 2026: “Some blood amino acids linked to lower Parkinson’s risk”.
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2 new papers in 30 daysSee all 5 papers on total branched-chain amino acids
“Higher circulating levels of total BCAAs, leucine, and valine were associated with lower incident PD risk, with approximately linear inverse dose-response relationships.”
Incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
mediatesin humans1
Total branched-chain amino acids are linked with incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in humans (7.89% mediated proportion).
“Notably, total BCAA, leucine and valine partially mediated the association between T2D and ASCVD among female participants”
HumansMediation of the association between type 2 diabetes and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in Chinese participantsplasmaMedian follow-up of 10.3 yearsfemales
Diabetes, obesity & metabolism
White matter microstructural profiles
mixedin humans1
Total branched-chain amino acids are associated with white matter microstructural profiles in humans.
“Higher BCAA levels were also associated with lower PhenoAge acceleration, lower GFAP and NEFL levels, and more favorable white matter microstructural profiles.”
Humanswhite matter
Some blood amino acids linked to lower Parkinson’s risk
NPJ Parkinson's disease
GFAP
downin humans1
Total branched-chain amino acids are associated with GFAP in humans.
“Higher BCAA levels were also associated with lower PhenoAge acceleration, lower GFAP and NEFL levels, and more favorable white matter microstructural profiles.”
Humansplasma
Some blood amino acids linked to lower Parkinson’s risk
NPJ Parkinson's disease
PhenoAge
downin humans1
Total branched-chain amino acids are associated with PhenoAge in humans.
“Higher BCAA levels were also associated with lower PhenoAge acceleration, lower GFAP and NEFL levels, and more favorable white matter microstructural profiles.”
Humans
Some blood amino acids linked to lower Parkinson’s risk
NPJ Parkinson's disease
Incident Parkinson's disease
downin humans1
Total branched-chain amino acids are associated with incident Parkinson's disease in humans (Free of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases at baseline).
“Higher circulating levels of total BCAAs, leucine, and valine were associated with lower incident PD risk, with approximately linear inverse dose-response relationships.”
HumansFree of Parkinson's disease and other neurodegenerative diseases at baselineplasman = 374,751
Some blood amino acids linked to lower Parkinson’s risk
NPJ Parkinson's disease
Incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
upin humans1HR 2.014
Total branched-chain amino acids are associated with incident atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease in humans (HR 2.014 (95% CI 1.185–3.423) per standard deviation increment in ln-transformed total BCAA).
“Among female participants, significant associations were only observed in those with T2D”
HumansChinese participants with type 2 diabetes; per standard deviation increment in ln-transformed total BCAAplasmaMedian follow-up of 10.3 yearsfemales
Diabetes, obesity & metabolism
Hippocampal volume
upin humans1
Total branched-chain amino acids are associated with hippocampal volume in humans.
“elevated total BCAAs were initially associated with increased hippocampal volumes in MCI, though this relationship became non-significant after adjusting for confounding factors”
HumansMild cognitive impairment; association became non-significant after adjustment for age, gender, education, and APOE ε4 statushippocampus
Brain imaging and behavior
A prospective cohort study of 374,751 UK Biobank participants linked higher levels of certain protein building blocks to a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.A prospective cohort study of 374,751 UK Biobank participants linked higher levels of certain protein building blocks to a lower risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.