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Is Your Biological Age The Same As Your Age?

Is Your Biological Age The Same As Your Age?

by Gataca Admin in News

Introduction
 We don’t think twice before giving our age for official purposes or otherwise. This is because we know when we were born - i.e. the Date of birth (DoB) and just calculate how old we could be. Though your age can be a simple number, there are a lot of factors that actually determine if you are as old as that or not. Case in point- some people look much younger than their age, while others may look a lot more mature or older and tired. Why do you think that happens? This is where the concept of ‘chronological age’ vs. ‘biological age’ comes in - where someone who is much older but fitter may have a lower ‘biological age’, when compared to someone who is much younger but leads a very sedentary lifestyle and makes poor dietary choices on a daily basis. Aging is ascertained by looking at certain biomarkers- which are indicators of cell function. 

How To Calculate Biological Age Accurately?
Just like how we may require certain details to calculate the age of a person- their birth date, calculating biological age is dependent on a bunch of important factors. Aging at a cellular level is called ‘senescence’, and we have an in-built mechanism to get rid of very old and dying cells - as they don’t function well and also influence their neighbours in adverse ways. So, biological age in simpler terms just means to measure how much damage your cells have undergone, over a period of time- mostly in years, though some people may seem to age faster if they are highly stressed. The term ‘biological age’ was coined in the last century by an English physician called Alex Comfort.This concept has further been developed to explain DNA epigenetic markers. Our DNA sequence is very long- so long that if stretched from end to end, it can go to the moon and back several times, with probably some more left in the strand. We can’t have all that genetic material just floating around right? This is why it is packaged in a highly specific manner using particular proteins called histones. They are further spooled in to form the 4-armed chromosomes that we all associate with cell division. The chromosome has different regions in it- the tail end or the part away from the center is called the telomere. You can think of the telomere as a cap or protective sheath that shortens every time you age, but your DNA is still retained for the most part. If telomere loss is extreme, then it is a marker for aging. 

Wherever the DNA has been exposed, there are certain molecules that are added or removed- mostly methyl groups. This ‘methylation’ of DNA is what determines how we all have the same genes, but still end up looking really different from each other. Though there is a genetic component to aging for sure, what really matters is how your cells are functioning at the present moment- which genes are on, which genes are being switched off and which are maintained throughout. This is the first component used to calculate biological age- ‘Methylation of DNA- epigenetic changes’. In general, a lesser number of methyl groups mean that you are older in age. Since, the methylation observed has been super specific in a number of cases, the age of a person can be easily determined from just a tissue sample. All of these can be studied in detail using specially designed genetic tests- which check for epigenetic markers, telomere length, blood pressure, blood cells and populations, thyroid function tests and other hormones that help you stay healthy. They are said to be simple - provide a blood sample and you will then receive a report with all details of how you are doing at a cellular level. 

Biological Age vs. Chronological Age Calculation-
Biological age is calculated based on the expression of certain genes in cells present in the blood. If there is chronic inflammation in some form, then those genes are expressed more than necessary. Measuring how much your DNA methylation has reduced can give researchers a good estimate of what your biological age is. You can think of biological age as the number of rings a tree can have- which is a closer approximation of its age, compared to just its appearance and how lush its foliage is. 

Chronological aging measurement is pretty no-nonsense- you just need to know the date of birth or the year they were born in and you know their present age, by subtracting it from 2024. This number is also called calendar age too. 

Conclusion

Simple blood tests these days will give you the biological age of a person. If the number is higher, it means your cells and organs are having a hard time working, while any lesser values will show that cellular performance is more than optimum. Being mindful of what you eat, how much you eat, exercise and sleep- while also remembering to not get stressed out can greatly help you feel younger and better- and this will reflect as a lower biological age value. In fact, if you exercise regularly- like 40 minutes for 5-6 days a week, your biological age will be lower by 9 years on an average, while it is the opposite if you sit and work for 10 hours a day. You decide whether you want to live just longer, or if you really want to live well. 

FAQs

1. What is biological age, and how is it different from chronological age?
Biological age is a method used to calculate how old your cells really are metabolically speaking. This is determined by looking at certain DNA related markers like methylation in various cell types, some inflammatory markers and others. Chronological age is literally how old you are and it is determined by looking at your date of birth. 

2. How can I calculate my biological age at home?
You can give your blood sample to check for actual biological age- where it will be checked for telomere shortening, DNA methylation and other parameters. There are online calculators too, based on detailed questionnaires, but we are not sure how accurate they are, as the questions are pretty general. 

3. Does DNA methylation play a role in calculating biological age?
Yes, more methylation means you are younger in age, while the inverse is true if you are older. 

4. Are online biological age calculators accurate?
These applications rely on a set questionnaire with a few possibilities for answers. If you choose the right ones, your biological age will be a smaller value than if you are actually pretty honest about it. We are not sure of the formula they use and there is no certain way to tell you how old you are, unless some tissue sample from your body is tested thoroughly. 

5. How does lifestyle affect biological age?
If you eat well and exercise regularly, get enough sleep every night and find ways to destress regularly, then you will generally be better than someone who is pretty stressed and doesn’t have time to exercise or meal prep and doesn’t sleep well. 

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