Factors affecting your biological age

Your chronological age is the number of years since your birth.

It is no surprise many diseases and illnesses are age-related. Cancer, cardiovascular disease, heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, Alzheimer’s disease and other neuro-degenerative diseases dramatically increase with age. Increased age was one of the strongest predictors of poor Covid outcomes. Getting old has its problems.

A simple analogy is an automobile. When you purchase a new car from the dealership, everything is brand new and generally in perfect working order. With time there is wear and tear on the machinery of the automobile. Sometimes there is more degeneration of specific parts for a variety of different reasons. Sometimes, things break down and need to be repaired.

Generally, if you take care of the car, it will last longer and run better. Regular maintenance, including oil changes, brake jobs and tire rotations are requisites to maintain good function. If you use good quality oils, lubricants and fuel it can also improve your vehicle longevity. If you run your vehicle according the manufacturer’s guidelines it will also last longer.

The same is true of the human body. If you take care of your frame, it will last longer and run better. Using high quality food and nutrition will help it run better. Getting proper relaxation, rest and sleep is important. Avoiding excess toxins can prevent damage. Having good social relations and spirituality ensures the machine works with purpose.

Biological age is an estimate of the age of your cells. Human cells form the basic structure of the human body. Each human is estimated to have up to 10 trillion cells. Cells have a basic structure like a cell nucleus containing DNA, or the genetic code of each human. They have a fatty lipid bilayer that separates the inside of the cell from the external milieu of blood, connective tissue and lymph of the intra-cellular space.

There are also unique organelles in the cell, including the ectoplasmic reticulum, golgi apparatus, spindle fibres, lysosomes, peroxisomes and histone proteins all suspended in a liquid internal soup called the cytoplasm.

Some savvy doctors and scientists have to tried to estimate biological age as distinct from chronological age. They developed algorithms and tests to evaluate different parametres that may affect biological age.

Although interesting and somewhat insightful, the exact determinants of biological age have yet to be fully determined.

Your health is in your blood. Some common blood tests are relatively good indicators of biological aging. Blood sugar and lipids, including cholesterol, are good indicators of your cellular health. Glycated sugar end-products, such as with high sugar levels, accelerates cellular aging. High insulin levels and the high insulin growth factor causes abnormal aging.

Additionally, a complete blood count can give you information on the status of your immune system. Liver enzymes and kidney function tests give reliable information of their function. Electrolytes, proteins and uric acid give some more useful information. Hormone levels, including cortisol, thyroid and sex hormones can influence aging. Inflammatory markers can also be useful. Levels of nutrients like iron, vitamin B12 and vitamin D are also important.

Other less common tests for biological aging include individual subset T-lymphocyte counts, degree of DNA methylation and individual genetic testing. The length of the tips of your DNA chromosomes called telomeres provides important information about aging. Additionally, more than 1,800 different genes have been discovered to affect aging.

Yes, genes can affect aging. But your lifestyle and nutrition habits can affect gene expression. A refined, ultra-processed diet adversely affects cellular health and gene expression. Conversely, a diet rich in whole foods, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and high-quality proteins is beneficial to overall health. Habits like smoking and drinking alcohol releases toxins and damages cells. High stress levels affect cellular biochemistry. Poor sleep quality affects cellular health. Lack of exercise and movement decreases cellular function. Poor social and spiritual relationships affect the human body.

Go to the mirror. Look at your physical characteristics. Look at the colour and growth of your hair, the lines of your forehead and face, the colour of your eyes, the health of your teeth, the colour your tongue, the amount of air you can breathe in, the cadence of your heart, the suppleness of your muscles in your arms and legs, the growth of your nails and your bladder and bowel habits. Your appearance will most certainly give you some idea of your biological age.

Are you “aging like a fine wine” or “falling apart like a dilapidated cart?” While it is true your chemistry and genes determine how you age, so does your lifestyle, diet and nutrition.

The information provided in this article does not, and is not intended to, constitute medical advice. All information and content are for general information purposes only.

This article is written by or on behalf of an outsourced columnist and does not necessarily reflect the views of Castanet.