How Fast Are You Really Aging? The Difference Between Biological Age and Chronological Age

That old expression about age being nothing but a number has some truth to it. As your chronological age ticks upward, the real metric to follow is your biological age, and we explain why here.

As most people age, they look around and compare themselves to people of the same age. Do you think you look the same, younger, or older? Do you move as well as others your age? How do your activity levels compare with people in the same age group?

These comparisons are all well and good, but if you really want to know where you stand on aging, you need to get past the chronological number and look into your biological aging, which is where we can help.

Board-certified endocrinologist and metabolic wellness expert Sean P. Nikravan, MD, FACE, focuses on longevity and aging well. To do this properly, we skip your birth date and go straight to your cells and DNA for answers as to how your body is aging. These results provide you with some valuable, and actionable, answers.

Biological aging vs. chronological aging

Have you ever noticed how people say that someone is old or young “for their age”? This is because they’re thinking only of the chronological age when it's the biological age that's fueling the difference.

Your chronological age is just that — a number that increases with each passing year. What goes on behind the scenes, in your cells and DNA, is what truly dictates your aging process.

As one recent study explains: “Biological age, which reflects the state of an individual organism, functional capabilities, social well-being, and risk of premature death from various causes, often does not coincide with chronological age.”

Figuring out your biological age through DNA methylation

If you’re interested in longevity — and not just in terms of years, but in quality of life — the best starting point is to determine your biological age. One of the best markers for this is evaluating your DNA methylation processes.

DNA methylation is a normal biological process that:

Turns your genes on and off
Oversees cellular health
Repairs your DNA
Controls protein production
Promotes gene stability
Clears toxins

When DNA methylation malfunctions, it can overcorrect — a mechanism called hypermethylation — and may lead to any number of issues, from tumor growths to anxiety.

To assess your DNA methylation function and other key areas of your health, we turn to TruDiagnostic® testing, which measures 19 biological systems across 100-plus epigenetic biomarkers:

Vitamins
Fats and cellular membranes
Blood pressure
Neurocognitive markers
Toxins
Oxidative defense
Supplements
Amino acids
Lipid peroxidation
Metabolic markers
Inflammation markers
Uric acid pathway
NAD+ metabolism
Antioxidants
Serum lipids
Immune markers
Stress markers
Mitochondrial function
Ketones

The results of this comprehensive testing supply Dr. Nikravan with your biological age, or epigenetic age, which provides a much better picture of your health than your birth date.

Promoting longevity and living well

Our goal is to help patients become aware of their biological age, as it allows us an opportunity to truly assess how you’re aging and where we can make improvements. Taking action based on your TruDiagnostic results not only promotes longevity; it allows you to live better as well as longer.

Our team uses these assessments to promote better health and function on a biological level and to even reverse the aging process in your body. In other words, it’s impossible to reverse your chronological age, but it’s within your reach to reverse your biological age with the right guidance.

And this guidance starts with understanding how fast you’re really aging. To schedule your biological age assessment, contact us today at our office in Newport Beach, California, to set up a consultation with Dr. Nikravan.