First it was calorie counts, then it was body mass index and now it’s all about biological age in the world of wellness. That’s got nothing to do with how many birthdays you’ve celebrated, but more to do with cellular health.
But what does that mean? And is it more marketing speak among companies peddling expensive supplements, or a legitimate metric we should be paying attention to?
The National asks the experts.
The science behind biological age
“Biological age is a scientifically established metric that indicates the rate at which your cells, tissues and organs are ageing in comparison to your chronological age,” says Dr Unni Rajasekharan Nair, a consultant in internal medicine at Medcare Royal Specialty Hospital, Al Qusais. “[It] represents the molecular level of ‘wear and tear’ on your body.”
It is measured through a variety of techniques, from standard blood tests and cholesterol checks to assessments of physical capabilities, organ health and even hormone levels. More advanced methods include DNA methylation tests, which look at changes at a cellular level.
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