Age is just a number, or so the saying goes. But, in reality, it's a bit more complex; there are two kinds of age: your chronological age and biological age. Your chronological age is that number that keeps climbing steadily with every birthday candle you blow out. But your biological age? That's the one that tells you how well your body is really holding up.
Understanding the Difference
Your chronological age is simple to figure out - just look at your birth certificate. Your biological age, on the other hand, isn't as straightforward. It's a reflection of your overall health and the state of your body, inside and out. If your biological age is lower than your chronological age, it means your body is in great shape, and you're ageing well. If it's higher, it might be time to take a closer look at your health and consider some adjustments.
Assessing Your ‘True’ Age
In a previous post, we shared about various biological clocks and high-end tests that determine your biological age based on genetics, lifestyle, and environmental influences. But the question remains: what’s the use of knowing our biological age, since we can’t directly modify our genetics to reduce the number?
At Noviu Health, we believe in making longevity medicine actionable. This means we recommend tests that provide our clients with information and analytics that they can act on (through preventive lifestyle modifications, medical interventions, etc.) and see concrete improvements at subsequent reviews with our doctors.
Our motto is to improve your healthspan and enhance your lifespan, which means optimising your number of disease-free years. The first step is assessing your current health status:
- Health Screening: Regular health screenings are like snapshots of your health at a given moment. They can include blood pressure measurements, cholesterol checks, and more. These screenings help identify risk factors and conditions that might not show obvious symptoms.
- Comprehensive Physical Examination: A thorough physical examination by a healthcare professional can reveal a lot about your health. It includes assessing your vital signs, checking for signs of illness, and discussing your medical history.
- Biomarkers: Blood tests are powerful tools for assessing your biological age. They can measure a range of markers, including cholesterol levels, glucose, inflammation markers and plenty more. Abnormalities in these markers can suggest underlying health issues.
- Body Composition Scans: Your body composition - the ratio of muscle, fat, and other tissues - can significantly impact your biological age. Specialised scans can provide insights into your body fat percentage, muscle mass, and more.
Guiding Personalized Longevity Strategies
Once you've assessed your current health status, our doctors at Noviu Health @ Bartley Clinic will work with you to plan your personalised longevity strategies. These may include:
- Lifestyle Modifications: If your biological age is higher than your chronological age, it's a signal that changes are needed. This could involve improving your diet, getting more exercise, and managing stress.
- Medical Interventions: In some cases, health issues detected through age assessment may require medical attention. Early intervention can significantly impact your health and longevity.
- Preventive Care: Understanding your biological age allows you to focus on preventive care. Regular screenings and check-ups can help you maintain a younger biological age.
- Tailored Health Plans: Your unique biological age assessment can help your healthcare provider develop a personalised health plan to address your specific needs and goals.
At Noviu Health, we advocate a preventive and proactive approach to your health; we believe longevity is about ageing well and enjoying good health throughout your life.
References:
- “The Link Between Body Composition and Longevity” https://www.spren.com/blog/the-link-between-body-composition-and-longevity
- “Preventive health screenings and health consultations in primary care increase life expectancy without increasing costs” https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17786799/
