We all know the relentless tick-tock of our biological clock – this inner timekeeper influences the rate at which we age and can have a profound impact on our overall well-being. But how is it measured? In this blog post, we'll explore 5 well-known methods of biological age measurement and help you understand 

Understanding the Biological Clock

The biological clock is your body's way of keeping track of time at a cellular level. It determines how your cells, tissues, and organs age over time. While your chronological age is simply the number of years you've been alive, your biological age tells a more nuanced story. It takes into account various factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and environmental influences, providing a more accurate reflection of your overall health and ageing process.

Commonly Used Biological Clocks

Scientists and healthcare experts have devised several ways to measure your biological age. These indices offer a glimpse into the biological changes that occur over time and can be instrumental in making lifestyle and healthcare choices. There are a number of biological clocks and some of the most commonly used indices include:

1. Telomere Length: Telomeres are protective caps at the end of your chromosomes, and their length tends to shorten as you age. Shorter telomeres are associated with a higher biological age.
2. DNA Methylation Patterns (Epigenetic Age): Epigenetic changes can be assessed by examining DNA methylation patterns. These patterns are like a biological fingerprint, providing insights into how your genes are regulated and, by extension, your biological age.
3. Transcription (Transcriptomic Age): This approach involves analysing variations in gene expression, which can offer valuable information about your biological age.
4. Metabolome (Metabolomic Age): The metabolome encompasses all the small molecules produced during your body's metabolic processes. Changes in these molecules can provide clues about the rate of ageing.
5. Proteome (Proteomic Age): Your proteome refers to all the proteins in your body. Studying variations in the proteome can unveil valuable information about your biological age.

These indices, while distinct, often intersect and work in harmony to provide a comprehensive picture of your biological age.

The Practical Implications

These clocks offer estimates of biological age based on population data and statistical models, providing valuable insights into ageing trends. However, their utility is limited by several factors:

1. Biological clocks may not account for the vast individual variation in the ageing process. Genetic diversity, environmental influences, and lifestyle choices can all lead to accelerated or decelerated ageing that may not align with the estimated biological age
2. They may have limited predictive accuracy as they assume a linear and irreversible progression of ageing, although some age-related changes are reversible or influenced by lifestyle modifications
3. The application of these clocks to different species or diverse populations may yield inaccurate results due to variations in ageing mechanisms

While biological clocks offer insights into ageing, they should be interpreted cautiously. A comprehensive assessment of ageing should consider these factors to provide a more accurate and personalised view of an individual's ageing trajectory.

References:

1. “An integrative study of five biological clocks in somatic and mental health” https://elifesciences.org/articles/59479
2. “DNA methylation ageing clocks: challenges and recommendations” https://genomebiology.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13059-019-1824-y