What Biological Age Is and How to Calculate It

Most people are unaware of the difference between their biological age and chronological age, and they think both are the same thing. However, there lies a vast difference between the two. This article talks about what biological age actually is and explains how to calculate it. Read on to understand more about it.

What Biological Age Is
While chronological age is a count of the number of years that have passed since an individual’s birth, biological age is a calculation that determines the actual age of the cells in a person’s body. Thus, the latter is an accurate method of determining how old a person actually is. 

Chronological age is irreversible. On the other hand, biological age is variable because it depends on a person’s lifestyle, like their food habits, sleep cycle, stress, and exercise routines. An individual’s biological age might be higher or lower based on their everyday habits and genetics. 

They might also reverse their biological age by bringing only some minor changes to their lifestyle, including increasing the amount of sleep, reducing stress, and exercising. Thus, biological age can be controlled. 

How To Calculate Biological Age
A simple blood test can be easily used to calculate a person’s biological age. Dr. Steven Horvath created PhenoAge, one of the most well-researched biological age tests with his team. To understand how biological age is calculated, one needs to understand what epigenetics is. 

The study of changes to an individual’s DNA and how it affects their health is known as epigenetics. Further, epigenetic modifications are chemical changes occurring in a person’s DNA code that result in various bodily changes as it ages. These chemical changes are known as methylation, and increased amounts of these changes result in the disruption of the cells’ functions. 

Biological age is calculated through tests that measure the amount of methylation of your cells and is thus used to pinpoint the exact age of the body. Below are some of the tests available to calculate the biological age of your body.

EpiAging USA
First founded by Dr. Moshe Szyfe who is famous for his research on aging effects of epigenetics, EpiAging USA uses a saliva sample to determine an individual’s biological age. It has been approved by HIPAA, and customers also get access to the iOS and Android applications of the same that notifies the user with inspirational messages based on their test results.

Life Length
This test determines a body’s biological age based on its telomere length through a simple blood sample. It utilizes TAT technology that measures the telomere length of the cells. Apart from an individual’s biological age, the test reports contain the median telomere length and the average telomere length.

Elysium Index
This test also utilizes saliva samples to provide results. To evaluate DNA methylation, Elysium Index makes use of APEX or Algorithmic Platform for Epigenetic Examination, which is their own system. 

Muhdo
This is a test based out of the UK, but they provide international shipping. By identifying the genes that contribute to cellular aging and their biomarkers, this test provides the DNA results. This test also provides a holistic action plan, including diet and supplement plans as well as aging scores for memory, eye, and hearing. 

MyDNAge
MyDNAge is one of the most effective tests that determine an individual’s biological age based on either a blood or urine sample. Simplified Whole-panel Amplification Reaction Method or SWARM is the technology that is used by this test and it is a highly accurate testing method. 

The test not only provides your biological test but also compares it to other individuals having the same age as you and the entire population, thus giving you an idea about where you stand.