Absolutely! We all have to prioritize our time and resources. I haven’t settled on the TruDiagnostics test yet. The SimonOne body scan recently recommended by @DrFraser also looks good. What puzzles me is all the skepticism about the validity of a 3rd generation epigenetic age test. This is very well studied science at this point (3rd generation) and it’s established as valid, just not fully evolved yet. I just reviewed and I have dozens of links to studies and papers to back this up. I’ll select some good ones to post. Depending on coming launches of other omics age tests (particularly proteomics), I think we’re on the verge of a BioAge clock test that’s repeatable, reliable and accurate enough to be used as a measuring stick for longevity interventions. And the price will come down as it gains widespread use. Epigenetics are the leading candidate at this point.
Epigenetic clocks are based on pattern recognition. By analyzing large databases they see patterns in the DNA methylation sites (CPGs) that correspond very well with health states, conditions and ages. But there are hundreds of thousands of sites, so they are still researching which are the most useful sites. And they are still determining between correlation and causation. But it’s based on big statistical averages so of course there will be exceptions and outliers, but it will work for most people to tell them how they compare with the general public average for their age. And it’s likely that they will be more accurate when focused in on smaller groups, like young people or old people or possibly men and women. As @Steve_Combi has pointed out, your pace of aging normally changes as you get older and as we’ve seen that may not be linear change but may accelerate in stages.
Here is a very good but basic explanation and overview of epigenetic clocks. Everybody should at least know this much before criticizing their validity.
Read this article if nothing else, it’s short and simple.
What Is The Best Biological Age Clock?
The best epigenetic clock would be one that is trained on many powerful biomarkers of health, disease and mortality risk.
These can be real, physiological biomarkers, like the size of your brain (during aging, the brain shrinks), blood pressure, weight, dental health, facial health (if you look older, changes are your body is also older), balance, grip strength, gait speed, working memory, reasoning, and so on. It should also incorporate other biomarkers, like blood biomarkers (HDL cholesterol, inflammatory proteins, glucose levels, and so on).
One of the few clocks that actually measures various of such biomarkers, is the DunedinPACE clock. This clock has been the result of scientists tracking the health of around a thousand people for decades, regularly measuring their grip strength, dental health, brain size, memory, facial aging, and so on. All these measurements paint a more accurate picture of one’s health and biological age.
https://www.krisverburgh.com/best-biological-age-clock-epigenetic-clock-rate-of-aging-clocks/
