One example of positive stress would be exercise. Research has shown that we do need some levels of mild stress to activate our longevity genes. Modulating inflammation and stress are two important factors in aging. The good news is many factors are in your control that you can work on to optimize the aging process. They seem to have the ability to extend both the average and maximum lifespans in many organisms, essentially making life longer and making it healthier. Research in mice has found that activating sirtuins can improve DNA repair, boost memory and increase exercise endurance. Sirtuins act as epigenetic regulators, which means they can essentially influence how our genes are expressed and control DNA repair. Telomere length and sirtuin genes (also known as longevity or vitality genes) such as SIRT1 to SIRT7, as well as AMPK and mTOR, have also been shown to play a role in the aging process, specifically in the biological aging process. These biomarkers assess the function of the body’s organs at a cellular level and can include hemoglobin A1C levels, homocysteine, insulin like growth factor, total cholesterol, vitamin D levels and various inflammatory markers such as C-reactive protein levels, interleukins, chemokines and cytokines. In fact, in the journal Aging Cell, the study uses biomarker data collected from the blood samples of almost 5,000 participants in the Long Life Family Study, and researchers actually generated 26 different predictive biomarker signatures. It is a better indicator of how well-functioning we are and is generally a measurement of your age based on various biomarkers. It can be determined by diet, sleep, stress, exercise habits and by how well our hormones are balanced, as well as myelination and methylation processes in the body. Biological age reflects a combination of genetics and lifestyle factors. Biological age, on the other hand, measures how you are aging and has quite a bit more wiggle room for improvement. Short of lying about your age to the bouncer at a club, this number is pretty much set in stone. Chronological age is not always a good or true indicator of how healthy an induvial is or how well they are aging. For example, I am 33 years old chronologically, but my biological bedtime would be that of perhaps a 90-year-old (who else loves to be in bed by 8:00 p.m.?). There is now newer research that shows that the rate of aging can differ between individuals, or biological age may indeed differ from chronological age.Ĭhronological age reflects age in terms of years, months and days. It is also a complex molecular process that is driven by many diverse molecular pathways and biochemical events that are influenced by both environmental and genetic factors. Chronological Age vs Biological AgeĪging has been defined as the time-dependent decline of functional capacity and stress resistance. Much like learning a new skill or language, you do not simply learn it in one month, and you certainly do not unlearn it overnight we need to look at aging through the same lens. The goal with aging is not to evade it, but rather to optimize the process and possibly prevent some age-related pathologies that come with living longer. With aging comes structural and functional changes to these systems as well. It is important to note that aging is a process, and it comes with gradual changes in our body systems, our cells and our DNA sequences. Thanks to advances in modern medicine, many of us are living longer than ever before however, that doesn’t necessarily mean the quality of our lives is guaranteed to get better, which is why the differences between chronological age and biological age need to be understood. The field of gerontology looks at the process of aging, which can include biological, cognitive and psychological factors, as well as epigenetic factors (such as diet, lifestyle and environment) that result in chemical changes to our DNA sequence. Why is it that some people seem to age so effortlessly and gracefully while others seem to lack vigor and zest? This article introduces the concept of biological aging versus chronological aging, which refers to our time on this earth versus the quality of life we have while being on this earth. Have you ever wondered why some people who are well into their eighties or nineties seem to have an extra pep in their step, are full of life and have even been referred to as a spring chicken? Then there are other people that you might know who are in their twenties or early thirties that barely seem to make it through the day, they are essentially just surviving with their health, not quite thriving.
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