Measuring and reducing biological age

For thousands of years, people have pursued the desire for eternal youth. not only strange but also sometimes life-threatening methods have been tried over the yearsWhether it was mercury treatment, electron therapy, or the implantation of monkey glands – creativity knew no bounds in the past. X-ray facial treatments were also fashionable for a while. Fortunately, we know much more today thanks to modern research. While aging was once determined solely by visual characteristics or one's own feelings, There are now scientific methods such as the Horvath clock that can objectively determine biological age.

But not only that, science has shown that our biological age is reversibleSome even dream that in the future we will be able to completely turn back our biological clocks and thus (theoretically) live forever. Although we are still a long way from that today, research in this field is advancing rapidly.

Here we give you an overview of this exciting topic. We explain to you what the biological chronological age What distinguishes the Horvath clock and why research into human cloning has triggered a potentially revolutionary future therapy.

Measuring biological age thanks to Steve Horvath

Especially in connection with the aging process, there are several indicators that can be used to assess biological age. These include the Determination of telomere length or evaluation of certain biomarkers in the blood. The most well-known method to determine biological age is a so-called “epigenetic test”. The idea for the Horvarth Clock, introduced in 2011, goes back to the relatively new research field of epigenetics.

Epigenetic changes do not affect the genetic code itself. This is what the ancient Greek syllable “epi” means, to or means beyond our DNA. In the Epigenetics We are therefore not concerned with mutations, but with modifications that influence the activity of certain genes. These modifications include, for example, methylation, which leads to the shutdown of cellular processesIn this case, a chemical group (CH3) is transferred to certain parts of the genetic code, which then means that proteins, for example, are no longer produced.

With increasing age, not only random but also typical epigenetic changesSince these changes (methylation) can be measured, it is possible to draw conclusions about a person's biological age. From this information, Steve Horvath and his colleagues were able to develop a special algorithm that can be used to determine biological age.

Biological age – is there anything more understandable?

Admittedly, the whole thing was expressed quite scientifically. Here is an analogy that might help you better understand an epigenetic age testImagine your DNA is the text in a book. However, you never read the entire book because it's much too large; instead, you read only sections of it.And to help you remember which sections you want to read, you've stuck little Post-It notes to the beginning and end of the text passage. These Post-It notes are your epigenetic markers, methylated sites on your DNA. They don't change your DNA per se, but rather determine which sections are read or found and which aren't. If this explanation doesn't help you, you can check out our article on Epigenetics There we compare the markers with the volume controls for better understanding.

Through researchers such as Dr. Steve Horvath we found out that some of these “Post-it notes” are suitable for measuring a person’s biological age.

Epigenetic tests are usually simple saliva tests - including the in-house Molecular Profile Test by MoleQlar

Why should I lower my biological age?

Advanced biological age is associated with many diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and neurodegenerative diseases such as dementia. Researchers have developed algorithms that allow them to statistically evaluate the influence of biological age.

In addition to the epigenetic clock, telomere length has also become a focus of longevity research. One study showed that telomere length is inversely associated with cardiovascular disease. That is, The longer the telomeres, the lower the likelihood of suffering from cardiovascular diseasesA similar connection has been found between telomere length and Alzheimer's disease. Therefore, it makes sense to keep your biological age as low as possible.

Did you know? In a clinical study by Prof. Sekhar, older subjects, with a regular intake of GlyNAC, an improvement in various hallmarks of aging was observed. Including less inflammation, fewer senescent cells, reduced genomic instability and improved insulin sensitivity. This is one of the few studies where direct results have been examined in humans, not just animals.

GlyNAC is a promising molecule when it comes to cellular energy and biological age.

How can I lower my biological age?

There are numerous methods and strategies for reducing biological age. Some of them involve giving up certain habits or making lifestyle changes. Oliver Zolman has also compiled scientific data on this topic.

According to experts, the non-smoker life compared to smoking, extend life by up to 12 years. Sports and exercise would potentially extend life by 8 years. Further measures include a low-calorie diet (e.g. the Fast), a healthy BMI between 18.5 and 22.5 and, paradoxically, according to a study, the consumption of half a glass of wine also has a positive effect due to the polyphenols it contains.

One of the potentially interesting ingredients in (red) wine is the so-called ResveratrolHowever, it should be noted that the correlation between longevity and moderate wine consumption was not always reproducible in subsequent studies.

For powder fans and capsule lovers - Trans-Resveratrol from MoleQlar is there for everyone.

Rejuvenation à la Bryan Johnson

Bryan Johnson, the biotech entrepreneur and longevity hacker mentioned earlier, also relies on a sophisticated longevity plan to reduce his biological age. He eats three vegan meals and fasts for between 16 and 18 hours daily. We've also written about the benefits of a plant-based diet and intermittent fasting in a previous post.

Johnson's diet consists of large amounts of fiber-rich fruits and vegetables and plant-based protein. He also takes an incredible 111 supplements daily! His daily supplement routine includes, among others: Vitamin D, Omega-3 fatty acids, NAD precursors, Calcium Alphaketoglutarate or Glucosamine.

Did you know? Blood for rejuvenation – this questionable method was tested on mice by scientists at Harvard and Duke University. The bloodstreams of young mice were connected to those of older mice – in technical jargon, Parabiosis For the first time, it was shown that in addition to a improved stem cell function, increased cognitive performance, and the epigenetic age of the old mice could also be reducedThis led to longer lifespans and improved health in the older mice. The task of research now is to determine which factors in the blood of the young mice are responsible for the decline in biological age.

NAD boosters, SIRT1 activators and spermidine – how longevity molecules affect aging

In a very extensive paper the well-known aging researcher Dr. David Sinclair He described the molecular processes behind aging and summarized studies on epigenetic age reversal. He described four stages in the life of a cell:

• A0: The embryonic cell. At this age, the cell is young and healthy
• A1: The young cell: The first age-related changes occur in the otherwise healthy cell
• A2: Aged cell: The cell is aged and no longer functional
• A3: Senescent cell: The cell has reached the end of its life and can no longer divide

In his paper, Dr. Sinclair describes possible approaches to reversing biological age. This mainly concerns A2 cells, as these can be rejuvenated in various ways. It all has to do with the fasting process. We have summarized the most important findings for you below. If you want to know the exact biochemical background, you can find it in our Fast Article.

Sirtuins

Among the Sirtuins refers to a group of proteins that have the potential to prolong life. SIRT1, which requires NAD as a cofactor, plays a particularly important role. High NAD levels, for example through supplementation of precursors, together with the activation of SIRT1 (for example through Fast, or molecules like Resveratrol or Glucosamine) lead to a measurable reduction in biological age.

Spermidine

In addition, the molecule Spermidine to be effective. Firstly, spermidine is closely related to improved Autophagy. If our internal waste disposal system is strengthened, old, damaged cells (A2) are disposed of more effectively. At the same time, spermidine acts on the histones. You can imagine histones like the string on a gift. They are located around your DNA. Spermidine, similar to SIRT1, can loosen histones so that the underlying DNA can be read. The crucial thing here: The loosened histones are located at sites on the DNA associated with longer life.

Did you know? As we age, our NAD levels decrease. We now know that high NAD levels have a positive effect on our healthThey can also help reduce our biological age by supporting the activity of SIRT1.

How can we counteract the decline in NAD levels with age? There are three possible approaches: First, one can Precursors of NAD supplementSecondly, the Support NAD-producing enzymes. And thirdly, the Slow down the breakdown of NAD. You can find all three options combined in the regeNAD complex from MoleQlar. If you want to determine your NAD levels, then our NAD dry blood test an easy way to do this.

With the NAD test from MoleQlar you can find out where you stand in terms of your NAD levels.

Reprogramming old cells? A possible approach for the future

Strengthening old cells through exercise, supplementation, and nutrition is a promising approach in aging research. However, if we want to turn back the biological clock even further, this approach won't suffice. Here we must delve into the field of stem cell research:

What are stem cells anyway?

Each of us possesses an entire arsenal of stem cells. For example, stem cells in our bone marrow ensure that we can constantly produce new red blood cells, immune cells, and platelets. Simply put, a stem cell is capable of developing into different cellsTheir “potency” depends on the type of stem cell.

Let’s return to our example: A “hematopoietic” stem cell in the bone marrow can, when it divides, transform into a red blood cell, an erythrocyte – but also into a lymphocyte or monocyte.Both are members of our immune system. However, the hematopoietic stem cell cannot transform into a kidney, liver, or heart muscle cell. As our stem cells become less efficient as we age, we have fewer immune cells and are more susceptible to infections.

So, could the secret of biological rejuvenation perhaps lie here? Could we use healthy, new stem cells to renew our organs, strengthen our immune systems, and slow aging? This is still a vision of the future, but it could certainly become reality.

Stem cells and the Yamanaka factors

The foundation for this was laid by Japanese Nobel laureate Shinya Yamanaka of Kyoto University. He discovered the Yamanaka factors in 2006/2007. By introducing 4 genes, Yamanaka was able to convert skin cells back into embryonic stem cellsThese are also known as induced pluripotent stem cells, or iPS cells for short. These cells are capable of transforming into all types of tissue, similar to a human clone.

However, the discovery was followed by disillusionment, as the introduced genes caused cancer. So we are not yet ready to renew our organs with stem cellsHowever, research in this area is being carried out with great enthusiasm and groundbreaking new therapeutic approaches could potentially emerge.

Summary

Biological age is a crucial factor in longevity, so you should try to keep it as low as possible. According to the motto “Healthy Ageing”, which means nothing other than that one ages healthily or that the chronological age is higher than the biological ageIt remains exciting to see if and when rejuvenation therapies will be available that can drastically reverse biological age. We'll keep you updated on this in the MoleQlar magazine!