Biomarkers as precursors of disability.

•Predictive power of biomarkers for disability risk 2–4 years ahead was assessed.•Biomarkers offered incremental predictive value beyond self-assessed health (SAH).•Two-factor random-effects latent variable models were also estimated.•SAH was far from being perfect as a leading indicator of future disability.•SAH tended to under- or over-estimate different objective health dimensions.