How to Find Out Your Cells’ Age & its Impact on Your Health

Your age isn’t just a number – it comes in two forms: chronological and biological. Chronological age marks the years you’ve lived, while biological age gauges the condition of your cells and tissues. London Regenerative Institute, an institution offering regenerative treatment in London, compares the two and discusses how biological age surpasses chronological age in predicting health outcomes.

Comparing Chronological & Biological Age 

Your unalterable age is your chronological age, determined by your birth date and the duration you’ve spent on Earth. Despite the desire of some individuals to modify this aspect, it remains immutable.

Most of the ageing process is subject to genetic influences and is beyond your ability to manipulate. However, studies reveal that external elements can influence the ageing process, which includes diet, exercise, stress, sleeping patterns, smoking, and physical environments.

Your biological age, also known as your physiological age, can be influenced by these factors and others. Experts suggest that the condition of your DNA, which is your genetic material, mirrors all these aspects.

Why is Knowing Your Biological Age important?

Your biological age is important for understanding your overall health and lifespan. Biological age measures how well your body is functioning compared to your actual age, making it a better predictor of future health outcomes than chronological age alone. By understanding your biological age, you can take steps to improve your health and potentially “reverse” ageing.

How Does Biological Age Affect Your Ageing Process?

Biological age directly impacts the ageing process by reflecting the condition of your body at the cellular and molecular levels. Factors like genetics, lifestyle choices, and environmental influences can accelerate or decelerate this ageing. A younger biological age indicates improved cellular health, slower ageing, and a decreased risk of age-related diseases.

How Biological Age is Tested

Two key elements are examined when determining biological age:

DNA Methylation: The genetic code within your DNA is not fixed; in fact, you possess a larger pool of genes than the active genes at any moment. Some genes are in an “on” state, while others remain “off.” This mechanism is controlled by methylation, which determines whether genes are activated or deactivated. To illustrate, a gene responsible for influencing your immune system might switch off in response to factors like pollution or illness, leading to changes in your health.

Telomeres: Within your genetic blueprint, your DNA takes the form of chromosome threads (X or Y), each holding a unique record of your genetic information. At the ends of each arm of the X or Y structures lies a tiny unit called “telomere” that protects the chromosomes, regulates cellular division, and plays an important role in ageing. Scientific research has discovered that the telomeres shorten with time, which is linked to cellular ageing.

How Epigenetics and Biological Age Are Interlinked

Epigenetics influences biological age by regulating gene activity without altering DNA sequence. Environmental factors, lifestyle, and ageing can modify epigenetic markers, affecting gene expression and thereby accelerating or slowing biological ageing. Through targeted therapies, epigenetic changes contribute to variations in biological age, impacting overall health and susceptibility to age-related diseases.

Find Out More About Regenerative Treatments in London

London Regenerative Institute offers tailored regenerative treatments in London after conducting thorough epigenetic tests. For more information on treatments and how they can help you reduce your biological age, contact the team at London Regenerative Institute to book a consultation today.