- With a new research, it has become possible to find out your biological age with a blood test. In this way, the risk of health problems that may be encountered as we get older can be reduced.
- The age difference between chronological and biological age can be revealed by tests performed at an early age. Biological age difference can be prevented by changing a person’s lifestyle such as sleep, diet and exercise.
The time spent alive from the moment of birth is expressed as age. Biological age can be explained as the wear and tear on cells and organs. A study conducted at the University of Pittsburgh discovered blood-based markers that can reveal a person’s biological age. This discovery could help treat a variety of health problems that can arise as the body ages.
Aditi Gurkar, a researcher at the University of Pittsburgh, draws attention to individuals of the same age with different characteristics and underlines that the underlying reasons for this situation should be considered. Gurkar said, “Think of two 65-year-old people. One bikes to work and skis on the weekends, while the other can’t even climb one flight of stairs. Their chronological ages are the same, but their biological ages are very different. Why do these two people age differently?” She stated that they were conducting research to find an answer to the question.
You can find out your biological age with a blood test
Giving information about the research, Gurkar said, “We chose to look at metabolites because they are dynamic. “They change in real time to reflect our current health and how we feel, and we have the power to influence them through our lifestyle, diet and environment.” said. Gurkar stated that this test can be performed at an earlier age, allowing the person to reverse his/her biological age by changing his/her lifestyle and said, “For example, it can be applied to a person in his 30s who is said to have a much higher biological age than it should be. This person may then consider changing aspects of their lifestyle early on by improving sleep, diet or exercise to reverse their biological age.” He made statements as follows.
196 individuals participating in the research are divided into two separate groups. The first group includes participants aged 75 and over, who are defined as those who are aging healthily, and the second group includes individuals between the ages of 65-75, who are classified as those who are aging rapidly. As a result of the data obtained, a total of 25 metabolites that show significant differences between those who age healthily and those who age rapidly are identified. This group of molecules is called the Healthy Aging Metabolic (HAM) Index. The team also identifies three metabolites that appear to be particularly important in driving biological aging.
Additionally, in tests conducted on a separate group, the HAM Index was proven to be 68% accurate in calculating biological age. The researchers point out that with further research it may be possible to develop a blood test for quick and easy biological age assessment.
Details of the research Aging Cell You can access it from the magazine.
Compiled by: Fatma Kübra Astam