Which blood values tell you something about how quickly you are biologically ageing?
Blood values such as protein profiles, DNA methylation patterns, telomere length and common inflammatory markers each provide an indication, in their own way, of how quickly you are biologically ageing. The specialised tests are not yet standard general practice care, but your routine blood work already contains useful clues.
Blood proteins currently provide the most detailed picture of how quickly you are biologically ageing. An analysis of more than 51,000 people found that 227 out of nearly 3,000 measured proteins were clearly associated with ageing. Five of those proteins appear to play a genuinely causal role, including proteins involved in inflammatory processes and growth regulation. Notably, the largest changes in your protein profile occur around the ages of 41, 60 and 67.
A second way to measure the pace of ageing in blood is through DNA methylation, chemical markings on the genetic material that change as you grow older. The DunedinPACE test, based on such a pattern, predicts disease, disability and death better than older versions of this type of test. People who experienced a great deal of adversity in childhood showed measurably faster ageing. This type of test is for now primarily a research instrument and is not routinely available from a general practitioner.
Routine blood values are also useful, although they are less precise. Four composite scores calculated from around twelve common blood parameters (including inflammatory markers and blood lipids) proved sensitive to lifestyle, particularly diet. A higher inflammatory marker in the blood and a less favourable lipid profile were associated with accelerated biological ageing. In a Chinese cohort study, an elevated biological age based on this type of blood value predicted a 20% higher mortality risk per additional year of biological ageing.
Telomere length, the length of the protective caps on your chromosomes, is a well-known ageing marker in blood. Shorter telomeres indicate greater biological ageing. The effect has been clearly demonstrated in humans, but the measure is less precise than protein profiles or epigenetic clocks and has not been quantified in absolute terms in the available studies.
Long-term obesity from childhood onwards leaves visible traces in the blood: in young adults with an average age of 29 who had been obese for a long time, the inflammatory marker hs-CRP was two to two-and-a-half times higher than in people with a healthy weight. These are large effects for such a young age group, and the researchers link this to accelerated biological ageing at an early age.
Based on multiple large cohort studies (up to 51,904 participants) and validated research instruments. The blood protein findings are partly supported by Mendelian randomisation. Epigenetic clocks and protein profiles are not yet standard clinical tests. Telomere length findings are qualitative and have not been quantified in the available sources.
What does your VO2max say about how fast you are ageing?
A higher VO2max is strongly associated with lower mortality and a more favourable biological age, but is more of a gauge of your lifestyle than an independent switch for longevity. Reducing body fat and moving more, including gently, delivers the greatest health benefit.
Can a blood test show how old your organs are?
Blood tests can provide an estimate of biological ageing and flag the risk of specific conditions, but they cannot yet directly measure organ age. If you want to track your biological clock, DNA methylation and blood chemistry scores are the best-studied options -- but use them as a guide, not a diagnosis.
What does your klotho level tell you about how fast you are ageing?
Your klotho level demonstrably declines with age and is associated with greater disease risk, but whether measuring it is already useful as a personal ageing clock has not been proven. No standardised cut-off values for clinical practice exist yet.
How can I measure my biological age?
Epigenetic clocks, in particular GrimAge and PhenoAge, currently offer the best estimate of your biological age, but they are not yet ready for straightforward home use and require expert interpretation.
Can you tell someone's biological age from their face?
Your face does emit biological signals, but it is too limited and too variable to measure your biological age accurately. Take facial ageing seriously as a possible indicator, but do not rely on it as a measure of your health.
Which lifestyle factors influence your biological age the most?
Sitting for prolonged periods, a disrupted circadian rhythm and muscle loss are the best-supported negative factors for your biological age; exercising regularly and maintaining a consistent sleep-wake rhythm are the most concrete steps you can take right now.