Biological Age Determination

Tieng Viet

Direct-to-Consumer Company Selection

 

Biological age determination by epigenetic techniques or telomere length is gaining wider acceptance in the aging research community and beyond. As a result, the number of direct-to-consumers companies has proliferated, offering service to the public together with various remedies to slow down aging. Consumers face difficulty choosing the best and most suitable for their personal goal, be it an overall health assessment or a dedicated effort to reverse aging. Reviews and ranking of these companies are not lacking in the media^1,3. Unfortunately, analyses and opinions from various sources are not convergent. Here we review the available information and discuss criteria for selection.

 

Epigenetic Clock & Telomere Length

 

Biological age is a measure of how well or poorly your body is functioning relative to your chronological age. It can be influenced by various factors, such as genetics, lifestyle, and environment. There are different methods to estimate biological age, such as epigenetic techniques^4-6 or telomere length determination^7,8. Epigenetic techniques (clocks) measure the chemical modifications of DNA that affect gene expression^9-10, while telomere length determination measures the length of the protective caps at the ends of chromosomes that shorten with each cell division¹¹. Both methods have advantages and limitations, and there is no consensus on which one is more accurate or reliable. Therefore, consumers who are interested in knowing their biological age and finding ways to slow down aging should be careful in choosing the best and most suitable company that offers these services.

 

Practical Significance of Biological Age

 

Is it worth knowing? It’s really a matter of personal perspective. Up front the reader should realize that none of the biological age tests currently on the market has been approved by the FDA. Furthermore, if your biological age is older than your chronological age, there is no prescribed cure except for conventional health advice. On the other hand, the science behind biological age and rejuvenation is solid and has earned Nobel prizes¹². There is an increasing demand for tests and a corresponding increase in number of companies providing the service. Obviously a significant cross section of the population is health conscious and curious, driven by the need to know and the hope for rejuvenation. Possibly, at this stage of development biological age determination should be thought of more as entertainment, as claimed by cynical reviewers and even some experts^13,14. Even so, entertainment has its intrinsic value, not to mention that a learning attitude can only help, and information is power.

 

Selection Criteria

 

At current state of development most of these companies qualify as biotech start-ups. The most significant aspect to scrutinize is the composition of the scientific advisory board who besides lending their expertise and patents could help staff the company with a core of competent scientists in the field of aging, epigenetics, and telomere biology. A reputable advisory board can validate the company's scientific credibility and commitment to accuracy. This will help ensure that the company's products and services are based on sound science.

For example, Altos Labs¹⁵, newly founded to address cellular rejuvenation and ultimately whole animal body rejuvenation, has both Steve Horvath (developer of the epigenetic clock) and Shinya Yamanaka (2012 Nobel for cellular reprogramming) on its scientific advisory board. Elysium Health listed 25 renowned researchers and clinicians including 8 Nobel winners¹⁶ guiding its scientific direction.

 

Of no less importance is the quality of the executive team responsible for delivering on the vision, specific goals, and ethics of the company. An experienced team with a track record in relevant fields can inspire confidence in the company's ability to provide reliable services and products. It should be competent and trustworthy in overseeing operations and finances and ensuring compliance with ethical and legal standards. The company should also disclose the backgrounds and qualifications of their executive team and their potential conflicts of interest. For example, the company Life Biosciences has an executive team¹⁷ with over 100 years of experience in the healthcare and technology industries. The company's CEO and board member, Jerry McLaughlin has over 30 years of experience in the biopharmaceutical industry and was involved in the development of multiple FDA-approved drugs. He started his career at Merck and held executive positions at NuPathe, AgeneBio and Neos Therapeutics. On the Board he is supported by David Sinclair, a leading scientist in aging research.

 

Once satisfied with the scientific advisory and executive team it’s time to move onto examining the range of service and products offered. The company should provide clear and comprehensive information on the products they offer, such as the type and frequency of the biological age tests, the interpretation and presentation of the results, the recommendations and interventions for improving biological age, and the expected outcomes and benefits. The company should also provide evidence-based and scientifically sound products that are safe and effective and do not make false or exaggerated claims. Make sure that the company's products and services align with your goals. For example, Elysium Health offers a biological age determination test called the Index. It is based on epigenetics and measures your biological age across 9 organ systems. Elysium also offers a variety of supplements that are designed to promote longevity. At the other end of the spectrum is for example RepeatDx which only performs telomere length determination for clinical purposes. It is not a direct-to-consumer company and biological age could only be inferred from the result of the length determination.

 

Aging-related services can be complex, and consumers may have questions or require assistance. The company should have a responsive and helpful customer support team that can answer questions and address concerns from the consumers. The company should also provide transparent and easy-to-understand terms and conditions, privacy policies, and refund policies for their services. Easy access to customer support through the company web portal is essential. Either robotic AI chat or real time chat with a customer service manager is preferred, especially with follow-up telephone access as needed for conflict resolution. Less preferable is customer support via messaging and emails. Ample listing of FAQs could also be helpful. For example, MyDNAge provides contact information via email messaging and a direct telephone line. It further provides a clinic inquiry form, a list of FAQs, clear terms of service and privacy notice. MyDNAge does not support any form of chats from its web portal. You will have to decide for yourself whether that level of support is adequate.

 

Economic aspects are also critical. Consider the cost of the services and products offered. Compare different companies in terms of pricing, but also assess the value you'll receive in return for your investment. Consider how convenient it is to use the company's services. Are the sample collection kits easy to use? Are the results easy to access?

 

Finally, consider the company reputation and standing within the industry. Assess its track record and longevity in the field. Established companies may have more experience and credibility compared to newcomers. Look for reviews from previous customers and media outlets. Positive reviews from credible sources can indicate the company's reliability and effectiveness. However, it's essential to be discerning about the source of reviews and ensure they are unbiased. The company should also be open to constructive criticism and suggestions for improvement from their customers and media outlets.

 

References

 

¹The Best Biological Age Test of 2023: Review of Top 6 Brands. Jan Vincent Beltran, Healthnews, October 16, 2023.

²11 Best Biological Age Tests for 2024. Rachel Burger, LongevityAdvice, October 2, 2023

³13 Top Biological Age Tests Backed by Science [2023 Review]. Nick Urban, Outliyr, August 9, 2023.

⁴The epigenetics of aging: What the body’s hands of time tell us. National Institute on Aging/ News & Events, March 26, 2021.

⁵Loss of Epigenetic Information Can Drive Aging, Restoration Can Reverse It. Stephanie Dutchen, Harvard Medical School/News & Research, January 12, 2023.

⁶Epigenetics of aging and disease: a brief overview. Pagiatakis, C., Musolino, E., Gornati, R. et al. Aging Clin Exp Res 33, 737–745 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-019-01430-0.

⁷Are telomeres really the key to living longer, youthful lives? Katharine Lang, Medical News Today, May 21, 2023.

⁸Telomere Length and Aging. Johnathan D. Grinstein, MNM/ Aging & Longevity, September 26, 2022.

⁹Scientists unveil new epigenetic clock to gauge a person's biological aging. Christopher Curley, Medical News Today, October 18, 2023.

¹⁰Turning back time with epigenetic clocks. Liam Drew, Nature 601, S20-S22 (2022). doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-022-00077-8.

¹¹Are Telomeres the Key to Aging and Cancer., University of Utah/Genetic Science Learning Center/Basic Genetics.

¹²Elizabeth Blackburn, Carol Greider, and Jack Szostak shared the 2009 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for their discovery of how chromosomes are protected by telomeres and the enzyme telomerase. Shinya Yamanaka won the 2012 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for the discovery that mature cells can be reprogrammed to become pluripotent. Yoshinori Ohsumi won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discoveries of mechanisms for autophagy which plays a crucial role in maintaining cellular health and function and declines with age.

¹³Real age versus biological age: the startups revealing how old we really are. Wilfred Chang, The Guardian/ Science/ Ageing, June 13, 2022.

¹⁴What Is My Biological Age? I Took These Tests to Find Out. Dominique Mosbergen, Wall Street Journal/Health, October 23, 2023.

¹⁵Meet Altos Labs, Silicon Valley’s latest wild bet on living forever. Antonio Regalado, MIT Technology Review/ Biotechnology and Health, September 4, 2021.

¹⁶Nobel winners in the Scientific Advisory Board of Elysium Health: C. Bertozzi, A. Ciechanover, E. Kandel, M. Karplus, P. Modrich, Sir R. Roberts, T. Südhof and J. Szostak.

¹⁷Life Biosciences management Team.