Age assessment tools, referred to as 'aging clocks,' determine the biological age that differs from one's chronological age. These mechanisms analyze various biological markers within the body to ascertain the aging process rate.
Biological aging, a measure of how "aged" the body is based on the progressive breakdown of an individual's physiological and molecular systems over time, has been a subject of great interest among scientists. While biological age is notoriously hard to define due to its conceptual nature, requiring consideration of an individual's body performance over time and future risks of diseases, researchers have been working tirelessly to develop tools that can estimate an individual's biological age.
One such tool is the 'biological aging clock', a device used to estimate an individual's biological age based on various factors. These clocks have been instrumental in understanding the aging process, predicting health risks, and developing personalised interventions to slow down aging.
Currently, there are several types of biological aging clocks in existence. One such type is the 'epigenetic clock', which measures changes in the DNA methylation patterns of cells. Other aging clocks measure factors such as telomere length, gene expression, and protein levels.
However, the future of biological aging clocks may lie in the fourth-generation causal clocks. While there are no relevant search results regarding their availability or what they are, Eric Sun, an assistant professor of biomedical engineering at MIT, believes that future biological aging clocks will resemble fourth-generation causal clocks.
Eric Sun is launching a new lab starting in 2026, and his research is expected to shed light on this promising area. It is important to note that the new 'biological aging' test, which is yet to be named, can predict the odds of dying within the next 12 months and estimates an individual's immune 'age'.
Despite the potential benefits, both Henderson and Sun warn that these biological aging clocks are not yet ready for clinical use due to the potential for false positives and inconclusive data. This underscores the need for continued research and development in this field.
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Please note that this article is for informational purposes only and does not offer medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional for personalised health advice.
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