What is biological age?
There are two numbers for aging, chronological age ( based on your date of birth) and biological age ( How physically and internally you age)Â
How to measure biological age?
There are a few different ways to calculate the biological age. Measurement of biological markers in the blood: Some clinics provide a simple questionnaire and based on some routine tests and your life style, estimate your biological age.Â
One way of estimating biological age is measuring routine markers in the blood and calculating the biological age: Mortality Score and Phenotypic Age Calculator which is not a very accurate way to do it.Â
The other way is looking into the genetic/ epigenetic material.
Some labs measure the Telomere length ( the end part of the DNA that gets shorter as we age) and some other labs measure the methylation of DNA in specific locations on your DNA to estimate your biological aging.Â
Which method is the most accurate one to measure your biological age?Â
The last option seems to be the most accurate one and the higher number of methylation sites you check, the more accurate results you have. This method is currently utilized in research labs and not a routine test in clinics.Â
Measuring the length of telomere is not very accurate since the length of Telomere is different in different chromosomes.
Among different labs running these genetic testings, Elisium measures more than 100,000 sites, Trume and epiaging did not respond to my question about the number of sites they check.Â
By checking your biological aging ( based on checking the higher number of methylation sites on your DNA) and periodically comparing the results after starting specific interventions, you can see how your life style and diet might slow down or even reverse the aging process.Â
For example, you may want to check your biological age before and after a period of HBOT or regular sauna or exercise, change in diet..
People who have biological age of 5-8 years older compared with chronological age, are more prone to have a shorter life span and more chronic and debilitating diseases toward the end of their life with poor quality of life, for example more cognitive decline and not being able to do things you enjoy doing in younger age.
