How old are you?
Biological age depends on both intrinsic or genetic factors and extrinsic factors such as diet, physical activity, use of harmful substances, stress and anxiety.
Unlike with chronological age, measuring biological age is neither simple nor immediate.
Telomeres and the epigenetic clock are molecular markers that can determine biological age. Both are contained in our DNA.
Biological age
can be greater than, less than or the same
as chronological age
Telomeres.
Telomeres were the first molecular markers described. They are fragments of repeated DNA which are found at the ends of chromosomes.
Telomeres can be shortened with cell division, such that the measurement of their shortening can be an indicator of biological age.
The epigenetic clock.
Another newly described molecular mechanism is the so-called epigenetic clock, which can estimate biological age more accurately than telomeres. They are chemical markers that appear on DNA and they change with age based on our lifestyle.
Our chronological age does not always reflect our biological age.
If you eat a balanced diet, do physical and intellectual activity, lead a quiet life, etc., your biological age can be less than your chronological age.
What mechanisms
determine my biological age?
The human ageing process, understood as the loss of body functions together with an overall degeneration of cells and tissues, comes about from the progressive slowing of the potential of adult stem cells.
Factors involved in the process can be internal (genetic) and external (environmental, lifestyle, etc.).
Read article