There is so much new research on longevity and the speed of aging, so I thought it was important that you know some of what's being done in the field, and what still needs to be done.
Chronological age is the number of years you have been alive, whereas biological age measures how well your cells and tissues are functioning based on your lifestyle, genetics and environment. Aging is inevitable, but your biological age can actively slow, stop or even be reversed. Studies have shown that people born in the same year can have biological ages that differ by 15 or 20 years. Scientists can measure chemical modifications on your DNA, use blood biomarker panels to test inflammation, blood sugar and cholesterol, and measure telomere length, which can indicate accelerated cellular aging. Of course physical tests like grip and stress tests are also used to assess your well being.
Tests are now available to determine your rate of aging. For example, TruAge reveals how old your body is at the cellular level, your speed of aging each year and the age of your 11 key organ systems. Wouldn't this be good information to know? For a price, you can get these tests. From what I've read, tests to assess your biological age can cost from several hundred dollars to several thousand.
Other tests in the field include Tru Diagnostic, Glycan Age, and Epi Age. None of these are covered by Medicare at this time.
Scientists say that the earlier you discover your biological age and your rate of aging, the more that can be done to slow down the process. Diet (an anti-inflammatory diet), exercise, sleep, stress (reducing stress) are as always, the most important factors.
Full MRI body scans are also now available. They may indicate more than you want to know, like hidden tumors or cancer yet undetected.
We may think that it's too late to make changes. What difference will it make? Think again. We know how much even small changes in lifestyle can make a difference. One simple example: if you're not exercising, just a 20 minute walk per day can improve blood pressure, circulation and mental well being. As scientist discover more about this important issue, I will bring it to you,
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