Biological Age Calculator

Telomeres are sequences of DNA at the ends of your chromosomes that do not code for any genes.  Rather, they are there to prevent the destruction of important gene-encoding DNA from gradual degradation.  Your telomeres start out quite long when you are born, but slowly become shorter as you age.  Thus, telomere length has been a prime candidate for a true biological age marker.²

Currently, there are a few companies that offer telomere length testing for consumers.  Kits cost around $100 and require a small drop of blood, which can be returned by mail.  However, some scientists caution that the results should be taken with a grain of salt.  Telomere length dating is not exact yet, and “normal” telomere length can cover a wide range.³

Control of the expression of your genes in different cell types and at different times through modifications added to your DNA is known as epigenetics.  Several types of small organic molecules can be added to sections of DNA to speed or slow the rate at which it is translated into protein.  A common modification is methylation, the addition of a methyl (-CH₃) group to a DNA base pair. DNA methylation tends to increase with age and with each cell replication cycle and is much higher in diseased tissues such as tumors.  A couple of studies have found a high correlation between DNA methylation rate and current cellular dysfunction and predicted longevity.²

No tests are currently available to the public for age-related DNA methylation.  With recent promising results, however, a test may be in the works before long.

While molecular markers may be superior for determining true biological age, they may not be feasible or practical for the average person.  Therefore, some physical measurements have been developed as approximate indicators for biological age.  Measurements of strength, frailty, and other indicators of health and disease, such as grip strength and neck muscle mobility, have been used as potential markers for morbidity/mortality and estimated longevity.¹

The Frailty Index is one such measure that correlates well, though not perfectly, with biological age.⁴  This is a quantification of the number of “deficits” an individual has in a list of around 40 chronic health conditions, such as cancer, high blood pressure, or recent hospitalization.⁵  The percentage of deficits out of the total you have is correlated with your biological age.