What is biological age? How to calculate biological age?

In modern life, we often hear about chronological age, which refers to the number of years since we were born. However, another lesser-known yet equally important concept is biological age. So, what biological age is, and why is it more important than chronological age? This article will address that question, along with exploring how to calculate biological age and the factors that influence it, to help you improve your health and extend your lifespan.

1. What is biological age?

Biological age is a measure that reflects the level of aging in the body; in other words, it represents your true health status, independent of chronological age. Simply put, a person’s biological age can be younger or older than their actual age. For example, a 40-year-old individual with a healthy lifestyle and good health care may have a biological age of only 30. Conversely, a younger person with unhealthy habits may have a biological age that is higher than their chronological age.

Biological age is a much more comprehensive concept than chronological age because it is not solely based on the number of years but also depends on the health status of various bodily systems. It includes indicators such as cardiovascular function, lung function, muscle mass, bone density, DNA-related markers, and many other factors that reflect the true condition of the body.

2. Factors influencing biological age

Many factors determine a person’s biological age. These factors can be categorized into three main groups: genetics, lifestyle, and environment. Here are details about each factor:

2.1. Genetic factors

Genetics plays a significant role in determining the rate of aging in the body. If your parents or grandparents experienced aging-related diseases such as heart disease, cancer, or diabetes, you are at a higher risk of developing these conditions. However, genetics is just one factor in the broader picture of biological age. Lifestyle and environmental factors can have a more direct and significant impact.

2.2. Lifestyle

An individual’s lifestyle is crucial in determining biological age. Some important factors in lifestyle include:

• Diet: A nutritious, balanced diet rich in vegetables, fruits, nuts, and fiber can slow down the aging process. In contrast, excessive consumption of fast food, processed foods, saturated fats, and sugars can accelerate aging.
• Physical activity: Regular exercise helps maintain muscle mass, improves blood circulation, enhances cardiovascular function, and reduces the rate of aging. Conversely, sedentary individuals are often at a higher risk of chronic diseases, which can increase biological age.
• Sleep: Sleep plays a vital role in the recovery and regeneration of cells in the body. Lack of sleep or poor-quality sleep can accelerate the aging process.

2.3. Living Environment

The surrounding environment also has a significant impact on your biological age. Some environmental factors include:

• Stress Levels: Chronic stress weakens the immune system, damages cellular function, and increases the rate of aging.
• Pollution: Living in a polluted environment, especially with air and water pollution, can adversely affect health and increase the risk of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease, lung disease, and cancer. This can raise biological age compared to chronological age.
• Socioeconomic Status: Individuals living in economically disadvantaged conditions often have a higher biological age due to a lack of access to healthcare services, inadequate nutrition, and high stress levels.

3. Why is it important to pay attention to biological age?

Understanding what biological age is will help you grasp the significance of monitoring this age. Biological age provides many practical benefits for your health and quality of life. Here are the main reasons why you should focus on biological age rather than solely relying on chronological age:

3.1. Reflects the true health of the body

Chronological age does not accurately reflect an individual’s health status. A person may be young chronologically but face various health issues such as diabetes, hypertension, and aging-related diseases. Conversely, an older individual with a healthy lifestyle and few health problems may have a biological age much younger than their actual age.

Relying on the formula for calculating biological age allows you to accurately assess your overall health status, enabling you to implement necessary improvements and adjustments as needed.

3.2. Predicts potential health risks

One of the significant benefits of calculating biological age is that it allows you to anticipate potential health risks. If your biological age is higher than your chronological age, it may indicate that your body is aging more rapidly and is at higher risk for chronic conditions in the future. This insight helps you take proactive measures for health care, explore preventive strategies, and plan for early treatment.

3.3. Helps adjust lifestyle to improve health and extend lifespan

Knowing your biological age helps you become more aware of how lifestyle and environmental factors influence your health. As a result, you can make necessary lifestyle changes to slow down the aging process, maintain good health, and extend your lifespan. For example, if you find that your biological age is higher than your actual age, you can modify your diet, increase physical activity, reduce stress, and ensure adequate sleep to improve your health and slow down aging.

4. How to Calculate Biological Age

There are various methods and formulas for calculating biological age, ranging from simple approaches like general health check-ups to complex methods based on DNA analysis. Below are some common methods for determining biological age.

4.1. Biomarker Assessment

Biomarker assessment is a method that helps determine an individual’s biological age based on various biological and physiological indicators of the body. This approach not only helps assess cellular aging but also reflects overall health and immune function.

So, how does biomarker assessment calculate biological age? This method relies on basic health indicators such as blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), blood sugar levels, cholesterol levels, and lung function. These indicators help doctors evaluate overall health status and the degree of aging in the body.

4.2. Telomere Analysis

Telomeres are DNA segments located at the ends of chromosomes, playing a crucial role in protecting chromosomes from damage during cell division. Telomeres not only maintain DNA integrity but are also closely related to the aging process. As cells divide, telomeres gradually shorten, and when their length becomes too short, the cells lose their ability to divide or die. Therefore, telomere length is an important measure for assessing biological age.

Telomere analysis is an advanced method used to measure telomere length in cells. By evaluating the shortening of telomeres, this method can help determine the degree of cellular aging. When telomeres shorten rapidly, it indicates that the body’s aging process is occurring more quickly.

4.3. Epigenetic Clocks

This method uses the level of DNA methylation to measure an individual’s biological age. Methylation is a process that regulates the activation or deactivation of specific genes and influences how genes are expressed. Changes in methylation can lead to health alterations, such as an increased risk of chronic diseases.

By taking blood or tissue samples and analyzing methylation levels, scientists can estimate biological age through algorithms.

Biological age is an essential tool for assessing the true health status of the body, reflecting the level of aging and predicting the risk of chronic diseases in the future. By understanding what biological age is and the factors that influence it, you can adjust your lifestyle, living environment, and implement more effective health care measures. This not only helps maintain good health but also extends lifespan and enhances quality of life.

If there are health issues, it is crucial to seek appropriate solutions for early treatment. Proactive health care from an early age is essential for living healthily, mentally sharp, and longevity.

References: Verywellhealth.com, Bioethics.hms.harvard.edu, Everydayhealth.com, News.ki.se, Relatyv.com