Biological Age VS Chronological Age
Fountain of Eternal Life in Cleveland, Ohio
Chronologic Age and Epigenetics
Every person ages at a different rate. Some people seem to age very rapidly, while others seem to always look younger than their age. We have all met people who look younger or older than we expected, so why does this happen?
The years, months and days you have been alive is your chronological age, which does not change regardless of your lifestyle. Diagnosticians can measure age-associated diseases by measuring symptoms of the disease, which will depend on epigenetic and environmental risks. Chronological age to diagnose your health status does not work.
Epigenetics is a newer field of science based on the environment and lifestyle facts that can alter your genes. It is conceivable that if your grandparents lived through a famine, that it would be reflected in your DNA today. Scientists believe that something that occurs in one generation can affect the DNA for three generations.
Telomeres
Biological Age
Your biological age is influenced by the environment, your genetics, behavior, lifestyle and other factors. Your biological age is a superior measure of your true age as it relates to your mortality and your health status. Scientists have searched for reliable predictors of the biological age for several decades. Your biological age will determine when you begin to show clinical symptoms of age-related disease.
A recent study found that using a blood sample will act as a future diagnostic tool for age-related diseases. It will be a guide for targeted preventive measures and for finding treatments for age-related diseases.
Other advances in artificial intelligence, in addition to large datasets, have increased the variety of biomarkers that may be used as age predictors. The goal is to fully understand the aging process, particularly healthy aging.
Telomeres and the Immune System
Aging Factors
Aging is primarily due to genetics, but there is a great deal of recent evidence that shows aging is influenced by external factors. Some of these factors include smoking, diet, exercise and stress. Gerontologists think chronological age is an incomplete number as it does not take into account the external factors.
Telomeres and DNA methylation play an important role in the aging process as telomeres are on the ends of chromosomes, and they deteriorate with age, then die. Therefore, the higher the chronological age, the shorter the telomeres. There is a study using 8,000 samples that showed living a healthy lifestyle actually reverse aging by lengthening the telomeres. Researchers used tissues and cells from different areas of the body. Some parts of the body ages faster than other parts. For instance, breast tissue is some of the oldest body tissue, and even healthy breast tissue may be up to three years older than the rest of a woman’s body.
Telomeres, Telomerase, and Stress Biological Aging
Those who love deeply never grow old; they may die of old age, but they die young.
--Ben Franklin
Ways to Reverse Chronological Age
Chronic stress is a major factor in aging, whether it is work, relationships or financial stress, the effect is the same. It is not the short term stress that most people have, but the longer term stress that causes physical problems.
Some ways to reverse the biological age include:
- Managing stress can shear off ten years of the aging of your telomeres. Meditation and mindfulness help reduce stress.
- Regular exercise can also take ten years of aging off your telomeres.
- Eating a healthy diet can reverse aging by five years, which means five fruits and vegetables daily along with lean meats and fish.
- It is important to maintain your ideal weight to shave nine years off your telomeres.
- Sleep at least seven hours nightly as this gives your body time to go into a repair mode.
- Avoid loneliness. It is important to have family and friends close by to fill the hours of the day with happiness and love.
- Do not smoke.
- Keep alcohol intake minimal.
- Drink plenty of water.
A DNA Test Reveals our Body’s True Age
Conclusions
Many people are obsessed with how they look and with aging, however, the longest living people live in China. Their lifestyle is a very healthy one, and I would assume their telomeres are longer than the average of other people their age.
Since our telomeres get shorter and shorter as we age I imagine scientists will look at ways to at least slow this process. With all the new advances in science, it is conceivable that someday they will succeed. After all, we can already get a blood test that will give us our biological age.
Will the cure to aging be affordable to anyone but the rich? It is difficult to look into the future, but the population of the world is now 7,714,576,923. I wonder what the population would be if people lived to be maybe 150 years old?
Old Woman
References
- https://drjohnday.com/6-ways-to-reverse-your-biological-age/
- https://www.iflscience.com/health-and-medicine/new-way-test-your-biological-age/
- https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-015-0750-x
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Telomere
- https://www.news-medical.net/news/20190704/Advances-in-artificial-intelligence-could-shed-light-on-aging-process.aspx
- https://www.verywellhealth.com/what-is-chronological-age-2223384
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19735238
My Biological Age
Can you take an educated guess as to your biological age?
This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.
© 2019 Pamela Oglesby
