Why is it that some people live through two centuries, yet other young adults require around-the-clock care?
We know it’s more than physical age.
While genes play an important role in healthspan, lifestyle is the single biggest factor within our control.
But many markers of overall health, longevity, and wellness change slowly. Sometimes, over decades.
Quantifying and tracking your biological age can help tell you if your wellness routine is helping or harming your healthspan.
Today’s review of the best biological age testing kits will compare and contrast them, and reveal which (if any) is ideal for you.
The Biological Age Testing Kits of 2025
Best Overall: TruDiagnostic TruAge
Best Value: Thorne Biological Age Test
Best Blood Test: InsideTracker InnerAge 2.0
Best Saliva Test: Elysium Index
Best Gut Test: Viome Health Intelligence
Let’s get started, and at the very end, I share a few critical things to know before buying a BioAge test kit.
Best Biological Age Testing Kits & Services
Biological age testing has attracted the world’s leading longevity researchers like Steve Horvath and David Sinclair.
But today, you’ll find all kinds of test kits on the market.
Top biological age test services maximize signal and minimize noise Share on XI suggest you keep the following criteria in mind when evaluating biological age testing services:
- Technology — how they determine biological age?
- Technique — what type of sample do they require?
- Privacy — do they protect your data or sell it to the highest bidder?
- Usability — will your results come with recommendations or just a number?
- Applicability — are your results unique or generic?
I’ve talked to biological age experts and compiled research. What follows are what I believe to be the best biological age testing services.
TruDiagnostic TruAge
Overview
Technology: Epigenetic
Sample Type: Blood
Platforms: Web
Actionable Reports: Yes
Turnaround Speed: 2-3 weeks
Available Countries: Global (mostly)
Privacy: HIPAA-compliant
Price: $499 (save 12% using code URBAN)
No matter who I talked to, everyone seemed to agree that TruDiagnostic deserves a spot high on this list. The value (accuracy to price) is unparalleled.
TruDiagnostic runs your blood sample through 850,000 loci (locations where DNA expression gets flipped on or off) for unparalleled epigenetic methylation analysis. The platform then uses computer learning and artificial intelligence to determine where you should focus.
2-3 weeks later, you’ll receive a detailed 85+ page report which breaks down every factor influencing your biological age. These give you insights into risks and areas to prioritize. As well as tips to reversing your biological age.
Your biological age number doesn’t matter if you don’t know how to improve it. Share on XYou can rest assured, knowing that TruDiagnostic is one of few companies that use the publicly validated DunEdin PoAm algorithm. This explains why they lead the industry with 99 percent reproducibility. After all, what good is the data if the same sample yields different results?
This is the same epigenetic biological age test that Kim, Kris, and Khloe Kardashian used on the season finale of their show [R].
When I decided to get a snapshot of my biological age, I chose TruDiagnostic due to the full transparency, industry-leading accuracy, and reasonable pricing.
Use the exclusive code URBAN for 12% off
This post contains affiliate links, which means Outliyr gets a small commission if you buy (at no cost to you). Thanks for your support!
TruDiagnostic PACE
Overview
Technology: Epigenetic
Sample Type: Blood
Platforms: Web
Actionable Reports: Yes
Turnaround Speed: 2-3 weeks
Available Countries: Global (mostly)
Privacy: HIPAA-compliant
Price: $229 (save 10% using code URBAN)
TruDiagnostic is continuing to innovate and make biological age testing more accessible. TruDiagnostic PACE is the budget-friendly epigenetic methylation test.
PACE is a stripped-down version of TruAge that is far easier to interpret for most people. Instead of ~100 pages of reports and complex science that takes interpretation, you just receive pace of aging and telomere length.
Helping you understand whether you’re lifestyle is working to slow how fast you age. Ultimately, this is the metric that most people care about. In addition to the easier interpretation with this test, TruDiagnostic PACE costs about half of the original TruAge test and results return even faster.
The technology behind the test is the same, with 850,000 loci analyzed within your sample. TruDiagnostic then uses the industry-leading DunEdin PoAm algorithm combined with computer learning and artificial intelligence to generate your actionable reports.
TruDiagnostic’s new PACE test is perfect for those looking to understand and track (accurately) how fast they’re aging and don’t want the complexity or cost of TruAge.
Use the exclusive code URBAN for 12% off
InsideTracker InnerAge 2.0
Overview
Technology: Bloodwork algorithm
Sample Type: Blood
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Actionable Reports: Yes
Turnaround Speed: 3-5 days
Available Countries: USA, Global (limited)
Privacy: HIPAA-compliant
Price: $99-$489 (save 25% using code OUTLIYR25)
My first biological age test came through InsideTracker’s InnerAge bloodwork algorithm. Since I already had to get my annual blood work done, I figured that I might as well add on their InnerAge package ($99).
You can get an InsideTracker Membership for $149.You can also get the Membership plus their Ultimate Test for $489. They have a lot more bundles available if you’re in the US and Canada but you can use my code regardless.
InnerAge gives you a composite score. Then you can drill down into it, and see which blood markers altered the score — and why. They calculate your age using a proprietary algorithm that draws from 18 biomarkers for men, and 14 for women.
Wait 3-5 days after submitting your blood sample, and you’ll get beautifully designed and easy-to-implement advice on how to best reverse your biological age. No cut and dry Word documents, no mile-long PDFs. Just a color-coded dashboard with your action items sorted by impact.
So how was it?
Despite my healthy lifestyle, my biological age came out 5 years older than chronologically. After some analysis, I discovered that I added 7 years due to imbalanced immune markers. I had waited 4 days after my sickness symptoms disappeared, but I should have waited longer.
When I ignored immune biomarkers, I found the report and suggestions useful.
When you get blood work next, I recommend InsideTracker Ultimate with the InnerAge add-on (see my review here) to get a decent picture of your bio age.
Use the InnerAge code OUTLIYRPRO25 to save 25%
GlycanAge
Overview
Technology: IgG Glycome
Sample Type: Blood
Platforms: Web
Actionable Reports: No (but 1-1 coaching)
Turnaround Speed: 3-5 weeks
Available Countries: Global
Privacy: Unknown
Price: 1 for $372, 2 for $744
GlycanAge approached cellular age quantification in a novel way. Instead of blood algorithms, telomeres, or epigenetic testing, they opted to measure a special kind of sugar molecule (called glycans). Glycans indicate inflammation levels in your immune system.
Like any good test in this category, they’re most influenced by genes, lifestyle choices, and your environment.
GlycanAge features a diverse Scientific Advisory Board of folks from glycobiology, immunology, longevity, and molecular biology. They’ve been researching aging science for 20+ years and have accumulated dozens of studies that show the link between glycans and aging.
For the same price, I’d rather get epigenetic testing. But what stands out is that GlycanAge gives you a complimentary session with a scientist to understand your results, and then another with a healthspan doctor to help you make a game plan.
GlycanAge is a good choice if you want lots of 1-1 expert attention to help reduce your biological age.
Thorne Biological Age Test
Overview
Technology: Bloodwork algorithm
Sample Type: Blood
Platforms: Web
Actionable Reports: Yes
Turnaround Speed: 1 day
Available Countries: USA
Privacy: Unknown
Price: $85
Thorne has grown to become one of the most trusted names in supplements. They’re the exclusive brand relied on by Olympic teams, professional athletes, and those serious about purity and efficacy.
They’ve only recently begun biomarker testing.
Thorne’s Biological Age Test Kit takes a blood sample and displays your personal age score along with a breakdown of the age of your organ systems. Measurements include:
- Biological Age
- Age Rate
- Blood Age
- Lipid Age
- Liver Age
- Kidney Age
- Metabolic Age
Struggling kidneys but optimized metabolism?
This kit simplifies identifying your strengths and weaknesses. Of particular interest, I like that Thorne included a measure of Age Rate. Age Rate is vital, as it shows your current trajectory.
The process is standard. You fill out a health profile, go to your nearest lab for a blood draw, and get your insights and age score. Most people receive their report the next day.
State-of-the-art Onegevity Health Intelligence powers in-depth and accurate reports.
As it’s a new product, I expect it to become a go-to in the coming months.
Overall, Thorne’s test is the best value biological age service.
Elysium Index Biological Age Testing Kit
Overview
Technology: Epigenetic methylation
Sample Type: Saliva
Platforms: Web
Actionable Reports: Yes
Turnaround Speed: 6 weeks
Available Countries: USA
Privacy: Anonymized
Price: $299
Longevity and biotech startup Elysium made their foree into the biological aging space with their Index product. Although it seems new, Elysium originally called it “phenotypic age,” Index is the result of a collaboration between Elysium and Yale University’s esteemed researcher Morgan Levine.
They’ve been featured in major media outlets like:
- AARP
- WIRED
- Men’s Journal
- Good Housekeeping
- Shape
Elysium uses a custom chip designed by Illumina and runs your sample through their advanced Algorithmic Platform for Epigenetic Examination (APEX) technology. I generally don’t like saliva epigenetic testing.
The same saliva sample tested multiple times can return biological age differences up to 25 years!
APEX solves this issue, bringing the “noise” between tests down to ~1 year. Index examines over 100,000 loci (regions of genetic “on and off” switches) and uses this to calculate your biological age.
Since 2018, they’ve been hard at work honing the accuracy and predictive power of this test and it shows in Index.
Six weeks after submitting your Elysium Index test, you receive two results:
- Biological age
- Cumulative rate of aging
For anyone considering Index, I highly recommend choosing a subscription rather than a one-off test. Annual or semi-annual subscriptions are nearly half price ($299 vs $499).
If you prefer the most consistent (and accurate) saliva-based epigenetic biological age test and have the budget, Elysium Index is a worthy test.
Muhdo DNA Health Testing Kits
Overview
Technology: Epigenetic methylation
Sample Type: Saliva
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Actionable Reports: Yes
Turnaround Speed: Unknown
Available Countries: Global
Privacy: Anonymized
Price: $180-$333
Muhdo is a health testing company that has focused on DNA analytics. As they grew, they eventually compiled a database that allowed them to interpret epigenetic data. Muhdo now offers two tiers:
- DNA Health
- DNA Transform
To capitalize on epigenetic testing, you’ll need the latter.
The service has expanded tremendously. On the consumer front, they’re working with professional and Olympic athletes. But the bulk of their business is white-labeling their biological age testing services for other companies.
That’s right, many of the saliva-based tests actually use Muhdo technology and facilities.
After submitting your saliva sample and waiting an undisclosed amount of time (uh oh), you’ll get a bunch of “DNA Core Reports” back along with a few epigenetic scores:
- Biological Age
- Eye Age
- Memory Age
- Hearing Age
- Inflammation
I like the Eye Age and Hearing Age. This might be a good service if your lineage struggles with those systems.
I wanted to like this service. The glaring issue is that they take a saliva sample instead of blood. Saliva has very little scientific research backing its findings. Who knows the validity of the findings?
However I did talk to a Director at Muhdo, and he assured me that they have a lab and team dedicated to validating and refining their process for maximum accuracy.
If you care about your data, Muhdo is not HIPAA-complaint. They do meet GDPR standards and claim to keep your data safe.
I’d go for Muhdo’s DNA Transform if you want both genetic and epigenetic reports all in one and don’t mind less transparency than TruDiagnostic.
Use the Muhdo code URBAN for 10% off
DoNotAge Biological Age Testing Kit
Overview
Technology: Epigenetic methylation
Sample Type: Saliva
Platforms: Web
Actionable Reports: Unknown
Turnaround Speed: 12 weeks
Available Countries: Global
Privacy: Unknown
Price: $275
DoNotAge is another longevity supplements vendor that offers a new biological age testing kit.
Submit your saliva sample, wait up to 12-weeks, and your data gets run through machine learning models to uncover unique biological patterns. Your sample yields an impressive 50 test results. Some of which include:
- Biological Age
- Memory Age
- Hearing Age
- Eye Age
- Inflammation Score
- Diet Report
- Immune Function
- Physical Report
- Vitamins Report
For each, you can see your current risk based on your lifestyle-induced epigenetic expression.
Again, I wish that this was a blood-based test for superior accuracy and reproducibility. At $275, I’m not sure it’d be my first choice.
If you want an epigenetic-based biological aging test geared towards disease risk, don’t mind that it uses saliva rather than blood samples, DoNotAge could be a good pick.
Use the exclusive Do Not Age code URBAN or OUTLIYR for 10% off
Viome Full Body Intelligence Test Kit
Overview
Technology: Gut microbiome + blood transcriptome
Sample Type: Stool + blood
Platforms: Web, iOS, Android
Actionable Reports: Yes
Turnaround Speed: 2-3 weeks
Available Countries: Global (limited)
Privacy: Unknown
Price: $399 (get $110 off with code URBAN)
Viome made waves in the health optimization community when they introduced the world’s first accurate consumer-friendly gut microbiome sequencing. Using “shotgun” sequencing technology combined with AI, they could accurately predict your inflammation and blood sugar responses to 400+ foods.
The apps clearly state your particular “superfoods” to enjoy in abundance and your “kryptonite” to avoid as much as possible.
More recently, they introduced the Viome Full Body Intelligence Test Kit. This upgrade adds a Cellular Health blood panel. After submitting your stool (yes, it’s needed to sequence your gut) and blood sample, several weeks later you receive over 30 high-level scores and subscores on your:
- Gut microbiome health
- Biological age
- Cellular function health
- Immune health
- Energy levels
- Stress response
This is the only test that measures both the health of your gut microbiome and also your human cells. Additionally, I like that they include a breakdown of your DNA and mitochondrial damage.
Every report comes with food, supplement, prebiotics, and probiotics recommendations. I hope that they one day include lifestyle modifications, disease risk, and specialized protocols.
I actually tried Viome many years ago, before they offered this cellular health upgrade. The machine learning algorithms needed more data back then. In early 2022, I reviewed Viome’s Health Intelligence test kit and was pleasantly surprised by my results.
If you don’t mind submitting blood and poop, Viome generates ample actionable biological health data at the price of $399.
Use the exclusive Viome code URBAN for $110 off
Alive By Science At-Home Testing Kits
Overview
Technology: IC NAD+
Sample Type: Blood
Platforms: Web
Actionable Reports: No
Turnaround Speed: 7-10 days
Available Countries: USA
Privacy: Unknown
Price: $59
Alive By Science (ABS) produces the most popular longevity-increasing supplements. Proprietary liposomal delivery technology ensures you absorb the most possible. Some of my go-to’s from them include NAD boosters like NMN & NR, resveratrol, fisetin, glutathione, and even berberine.
With most supplement companies, you have no idea whether the products actually work. ABS is so confident in their products, that they also offer testing kits. I have their basic $59 High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (Hs-CRP) Test, which measures inflammation. And also their IC NAD+ Test.
For reference, NAD is considered one of the top essential molecules for life, and it’s highly correlated with biological age. When you live a healthy lifestyle, your blood NAD levels stay high. This is one biological age marker that flies under the radar but has great potential.
If you take NAD boosting longevity supplements, you should test your blood levels to make sure they’re real and not wasting money.
This post contains affiliate links, which means Outliyr gets a small commission if you buy (at no cost to you). Thanks for your support!
Chronomics Epigenetic Testing
Overview
Technology: Epigenetic methylation
Sample Type: Blood
Platforms: Web
Actionable Reports: Yes
Turnaround Speed: Unknown
Available Countries: Unknown
Privacy: Unknown
Price: $252
Chronomics seems like a viable epigenetics testing platform, with a clean look and notable backing. They’ve received attention from BBC Science, Forbes, and City AM.
The website itself, and all related resources, discuss the power of epigenetics. But lists little information about their own process. There’s no way to determine what technologies they use, how they stack up to others, or any way to verify the worthiness of their $250+ sticker price.
The only thing I could find is that they “assess more than 20 million epigenetic markers” and claim to have an error rate of <0.01 percent.
The graphs, data visualizations, and charts look nice. This service targets corporate wellness and happens to also offer consumer epigenetic testing.
Lack of transparency make this a service mostly tailored towards corporate wellness clients.
Biological Age Testing Apps
I’m skeptical of the accuracy of any app-based biological age testing service. Compared to real, gold-standard biological age tests.
Especially the ones based on self-reported questionnaire data.
Mainly because the largest influences on your biological are often the factors that you’re unaware of. Plus, people notoriously mis-report diet, movement, and lifestyle.
Other apps that rely on photos have different vulnerabilities. For example, the same photo take under different lighting can yield drastically different results.
Though I wouldn’t base any health decisions on these BioAge apps, they’re interesting regardless.
NOVOS Life AI Biological Age Test
Longevity supplements manufacturer NOVOS Labs recently released a free, at-home, AI-powered, biological age assessment. It’s rumored to outperform some blood-based tests. The app is built on the ENABL Age epigenetic clock [R].
Users answer a lifestyle questionnaire and their system turns that into a Lifestyle Score (out of 100). From there, you can see how your results compare to the social leaderboards, view personalized recommendations, and even chat with AI.
Questionnaires cannot capture this. But it’s a cool and interesting technology, nonetheless.
Questionable BioAge Testing Companies
These are the companies that I am still researching and/or they are too new to know the validity and repeatability of their science.
If/once I use the services, I will move them accordingly.
Tally Health
Co-Founded by longevity influencer Dr. David Sinclair, Tally Health launched its platform to the public in March 2023. Unlike others on the list which use open-source, well-validated clocks, Tally built the tool around their proprietary “TallyAge clock”. It’s purported to offer actionable lifestyle recommendations to lower your “TallyAge”.
This one requires an at-home cheek swab sample. With that sample, they claim to analyze 850,000 DNA methylation sites. Unfortunately, Tally forces you to commit to a monthly membership. You pay $129-$199 per month and receive one test per quarter. That works out to $516 to $796 per test.
Members do receive a daily longevity supplement that contains several key ingredients: calcium alpha-ketoglutarate (caAKG), fisetin, quercetin, resveratrol, and spermidine. While this might be convenient, it probably won’t be a great deal. Back of the napkin math pegs the actual costs of the formula are around $0.50 per day. So $45 for the quarter.
Since most people don’t need quarterly epigenetic testing, that money is better spent elsewhere, Overall, I imagine Dr. David Sinclair’s Tally Health will become popular due to its convenience and name recognition.
Biological Age Testing Services I’d Avoid
After extensive research, I compiled a list of the companies I personally don’t feel comfortable using and my rationale behind each.
These could turn out to be viable options, and I will update this post with any new data I receive.
MyDNAge
MyDNAge is an epigenetic testing service that began in September 2019, seems to have struggled, and is slowly disappearing. Here’s why…
You pay $299 to have a meager 2,000 loci analyzed, wait 6-8 weeks to get your results, which ends up being a plain 1-page report. We don’t know which algorithm they use, so the results are pure speculation. Plus, there’s nothing about their reproducibility.
Look this one up on your favorite online retailer. Their 2.8-star overall rating, and “Currently Unavailable” status confirm my suspicions.
I do not recommend MyDNAge since there are better options.
EpiAging Test
I’m not sure what to think about EpiAging USA’s test kits. I’ve heard them recommended to me several times. They’re also mentioned in the blog of the well-known supplement manufacturer TRU NIAGEN. On one hand, they’re by far the cheapest epigenetic testing service. But their advantages end there.
The website itself clearly lacked proofreading by a native English speaker. I studied each page of their site. Read thousands of words. Looked for real, third-party reviews. All of this turned up nothing.
Their blog hasn’t been updated since 2020. The FAQ isn’t useful. Even if they massively revamp their website, they collect a saliva sample rather than blood (industry standard). There’s no evidence that saliva is effective.
Decoding Your DNA
As you’ll soon learn, biological age testing is fantastic.
It’s one of the best ways to get near real-time feedback on your unique lifestyle.
Are the practices you follow and supplements you take improving your health? Or having the opposite effect?
It’s a great tool, but here’s the thing…
BioAge testing belongs after proper scientific genetic analysis.
That’s because your DNA sits all the way upstream. It doesn’t change, so the insights you glean last for life. Genetics forms the foundation of your biology.
It determines things like:
- Blood work
- Wearable biomarkers
- Functional testing
- Nutrient requirements
- Ideal exercise types
The right DNA service (the big names are mostly trash and sell your data) also provides you with custom actionable recommendations. They help you cut through all the generic health & wellness advice and trends.
Then you can use this data to start focusing on your journey to optimal health. Strategizing doesn’t have to be hard too. I made the B.O.OS.T bioharmony framework that makes it easy for anyone to get started.
Proper DNA testing is also one of the cheapest, highest-value tests you can run.
I personally use this company, and in my review, I explain why it’s the only company I’d use.
Once you’ve decoded your unique biochemical makeup, then continue on. Because a cellular snapshot of your current state is now useful.
Your Real Age: Chronological vs Biological
We’re all familiar with our chronological (often called calendar, actual, or physical) age. Every 365 days, it increments by one.
When we’re young, our bodies are most resilient against disease. As we can see with the proportionally low rates of chronic conditions. The older we get, the greater our risk.
Age is the #1 risk factor for all chronic diseases Share on XBut some individuals look and perform vastly above or below their calendar age.
You know that retiree that lives the lifestyle of a twenty-something and that looks the part? The one running marathons, traveling the world, and still setting personal records.
Conversely, that once fit 40-year old all but relegated to a wheelchair.
Biological age is an approximation of how well your body and mind actually function. This is revolutionizing the future of wellness.
Why biological age matters
Biological age depicts how well your physical body functions irrespective of your chronological age. As a measurement, it has existed for a while. While chronological age is fixed, biological age responds quickly to lifestyle.
Accurate “bio-age” testing serves fourfold:
- Diagnosing disease before symptoms appear
- Immediate feedback (positive or negative) on lifestyle interventions
- Determining the causes of aging
- Personalizing medicine to your unique biology
By the time we exhibit symptoms, diseases have progressed far. Often, the degeneration began decades before. Understanding biological age can help us course-correct and personalize treatments to our unique needs.
Testing biological age offers a window of insight into our current state that helps us understand our weaknesses and strengths. I consider it one of the top tips to live longer.
Live a biologically-compatible, healthy lifestyle, and you’ll likely have a lower biological age. Live recklessly and trash your body, and your biological age increases.
5 to 10 years from now, the health system that doesn’t use [epigenetic testing] data to improve their medical delivery is going to be deemed archaic.
Atul Butte
Therefore, quantifying our biological age can help us optimize our healthspan and quality of life.
Until recently, services offering the measurements were rudimentary, lacking useful and tangible results. Technology has come a long way.
New software, products, and services have arisen to help us accurately quantify our age.
Types of Biological Age Testing
In order to understand the usefulness of biological age, we must examine the differences between testing technologies.
Consumer-grade tests range from simple blood testing values to advanced epigenetic analysis.
Telomere Testing (Avoid)
Telomere testing and biological age used to be synonymous.
Telomeres are little caps on DNA that protect them from damage. Every time a cell multiplies, a tiny portion isn’t copied. That portion is the telomere. Each replication makes it shorter until the DNA gets damaged, and aging results. This is called the “telomere theory of aging”.
Testing telomeres promised to quantify the integrity of our DNA. Lower biological age translates into longer telomeres.
Theoretically useful, I began my research. I quickly discovered fundamental flaws with telomere testing that made it a waste of resources:
- Difficultly processing. PCR testing is notoriously inaccurate but considerably cheaper than the other methods. The same sample processed on a different day, by a different technician, or under and different conditions may yield different results.
- Too sensitive to lifestyle. The results of your test come down to factors like how much you slept or exercised, what you ate, time of your blood draw and many others. How can you draw any conclusions if your “baseline” results fluctuate 40% within the span of 1 day?
- Inconsistent results. Telomere length isn’t consistent throughout the body. Some tissues always have longer telomeres, and some shorter. Consumer tests randomly sample telomere lengths of a small subset of your blood.
- Average telomere measurements. Your shortest telomeres tell far more than the average. You mostly care about the percentage that are critically short.
This article explains the futility of telomere testing in more detail. Since it’s just as expensive (if not more) than other methods, with little predictive power, I prefer others.
Blood Biomarkers (Cheapest)
We know that certain indicators strongly correlate with disease. Biomarkers like:
- Inflammation
- Blood glucose and insulin
- Dysregulated immune system
Some companies have created their own proprietary aggregated health scores. Instead of comparing every individual blood test value and struggling to interpret the fluctuations, you focus on the score. With some, you’ll get a different score for each organ system. Others just give you a single overall score.
You live your life, make a few changes, and re-test. Then the score will help you determine whether it’s helping you get healthy or hurting.
While an elementary approach compared to the gold standard (discussed last), these algorithms are often available as inexpensive add-ons to your routine blood work. But you can also buy them standalone.
Due to their relative simplicity, they’ll also be more accurate than speculative new testing technologies. A recent 2023 pre-print study showed incredible potential accuracy of estimation using blood biomarkers.
Miscellaneous Testing (Good)
Research has focused on telomere testing, blood algorithms, and epigenetic methylation, but there’s a promising emerging category.
Scientists can tell a lot about your body and how well it’s working via other mechanisms.
Other new biological age testing technologies include:
- Cellular NAD levels
- Gut microbiome
- Sugar molecules (Glycans)
Accuracy varies from one testing method to the next and by the underlying technology.
For now, I recommend using epigenetic methylation technology (described below) for the most accurate measurement. Then you can supplement those results with any of the above tests to learn specifics and if particular lifestyle habits/products actually work.
Epigenetic Methylation (Best)
2013 proved a pivotal year in aging research.
Epigenetics is the study of how lifestyle “activates” and “deactivates” your genes. Things like smoking, drinking, stress, can deactivate good genes, and activate bad genes.
Epigenetic methylation testing examines which of these genetic “switches” we’ve activated. Leading researchers have anointed these “epigenetic clocks” the holy grail of understanding aging. The first epigenetic test was called “Horvath’s clock” named after the scientist who pioneered it.
Recent years have seen an explosion in tests, kits, and products offering these services.
Some of the things to look for in epigenetic age testing services include:
- Sample type. Virtually all studies have used blood samples. Since Saliva samples have less research, we don’t know if they’re accurate.
- Loci. The number of places on the DNA methylation has occurred. Testing more loci leads to more data, better recommendation accuracy, and greater ability to build future reports.
- Reproducibility. Under different conditions (different lab technician, different day, etc), will you results come out the same? If the same sample yields drastically different results, then the test becomes useless.
- Algorithm. How do their systems take these thousands (or hundreds of thousands) of loci measurements and build a report? The machine learning algorithm used can also make or great your results. Only a few algorithms have robust scientific evidence (DunEdin PoAm is the top algorithm).
Unfortunately, few companies disclose these important details. In all sciences, transparency is paramount.
To learn more, watch this fantastic presentation by Ryan Smith.
How to Lower Biological Age
To reverse biological age, we have two categories of interventions:
- General
- Personalized
Combine both for the best effects.
General interventions are the well-known ways to improve health. Things like sleeping enough, movement, light exposure, eating clean, whole foods, time-restricted eating, drinking natural water, living in a pristine environment, etc. Together, these form the pillars of a healthy lifestyle. Each has a myriad of benefits.
This is where understanding the new hallmarks of aging comes into play as well.
Personalized interventions, on the other hand, tailor recommendations to you. Things that might not work well for others, but conform to your unique biological data.
Some of the most promising biological age-reversing techniques focus on prevention and include:
- Regular movement
- Clean diet
- Quality sleep
- Light exposure
- Peptides (Thymosin Alpha-1)
- Growth Hormone
- Mitochondrial support
- NAD+ therapy (NMN and NR supplements)
- Exosomes & PRP
- Young Plasma Apheresis
- Stem Cell therapies
- Senolytic procedures
I use a DNA analytics software called SelfDecode (see my review here) which helps me understand which procedures, supplements, and tools will work best for me. Armed with this knowledge, I customize my approach to reversing biological age and save money by avoiding the things that won’t work for my biology.
Reversing Biological Age Starts With Quantification
One of the biggest questions in health and wellness…
Are my restrictive lifestyle habits actually making a difference?
These tests quantify your current state and establish your baseline.
Once you know where you are, you can test different interventions (supplements, drugs, protocols, and therapies) to see if they help or hurt your healthspan.
Large-scale epidemiological aging studies can take 40+ years, and then yield only mildly useful insights. Broadly applicable insights, but perhaps not suited to your unique physiology.
You may waste decades making sacrifices in “the name of health”… and to your detriment. Conversely, biological age testing gives you near real-time feedback.
Biological age testing holds tremendous promise.
This field is the foundation of personalized medicine.
Not all technologies are equal. Some cost more than they’re worth. Others lack accuracy. Many sell your data and are downright scams.
This is the dawn of biological medicine.
Most recently, I chose TruDiagnostic for their best-in-class biological age quantification.
The right platforms grant you tremendous power to improve your healthspan and quality of life.
Am I missing any testing kits or services? Have you tested your biological age? Let me know in the comments below!
Great article and very helpful! I was getting ready to order the lab test from younger you website after reading the book “young you” of Dr. Kara Fitzgerald, and I read your article. Her test is $299 and includes a consultation. I wondered if you had thoughts on the merit of her product?
Thanks!
Paula
Hi Paula!
I’m familiar with her work and I do like that her BioAge test kit comes with a consult. It’s probably a decent test, I just wish that she’d disclose more information about it. My guess is that it’s a whitelabeled test, probably one of the others on this list. But it’s probably still good, since these tests can be tricky to interpret and her offer comes with a biological age consultation.
What about Tally Health?
Hey Hashem,
They just opened doors to consumers! I got the email a week or so ago. Haven’t used Tally yet.
Do you get your biological age with the TruDiagnostic Pace test? The simpler test.
I didn’t. I personally did the Complete because I love getting the most possible data and I had some help interpreting it. But Pace seems like the ideal option for most people.
Just a heads up TryDiagnostic has hiked up their already expensive prices
Ahh bummer. You’re right. Updated the article with that 🙁
Another question – what is horvath clock? Is that also test? If yes, how does it compare to TruDiagnostic? Pros / cons
Hi!
Just noticing that I never responded to this—sorry about that. The Horvath Clock was one of the first commercial bioclocks deemed valuable. This article summarizes some of the details. It uses “first-gen” technology while many of the newer ones including TruDiagnostic have far more advanced algorithms and higher accuracy/better predictive power.
Today, there’s not much reason to use the Horvath Clock, aside from a greater volume of research behind it (due to its age).
Hi Nick,
Upon doing a little research, I notice Elysium is also a popular test. Do you have any insights on Elysium for testing biological age? If you do, can you add that to this article?
Hey Jeri,
Great question! You’re right, I will need to update the article. From what I’ve read about it, Elysium’s Index Biological Age Test looks like a good product. I still prefer TruDiagnostic for a few reasons: cheaper, far more DNA methylation sights measured, and an open-source algorithm.
Basically, with TruDiagnostic you can take your data and run it through any of the clocks yourself (though that might take a little research). You can also independently verify your results. The other services are a black box. You must take their word for the results you get.
Nick, I am seriously considering buying TruDiagnostic text in a few days, but it is so expensive –
1. will I be able to understand the results?
2. Do they make recommendations on what / how to improve things based on my results?
3. Can I reach out to customer service and ask questions about my results if I need help understanding my report?
4. Can really point out areas I need improving?
5. What do you mean by “with TruDiagnostic you can take your data and run it through any of the clocks yourself (though that might take a little research)” – don’t understand what it means.
Thank you!
Hi Liliya! I know it has been a few days, so I hope that I am not too late.
It really is quite expensive, unfortunately. I expect that to change as technology improves.
As a matter of fact, they released a new much more affordable “TruAge PACE” test which just contains the pace of aging metric. This is still very useful and what most people want to see, and it costs about half the original test.
1. Yes, you’ll understand some of the high level results (the TruAge PACE is more beginner-friendly)
2. Not yet, unfortunately
3. Support should be able to help with basic questions
4. I am not sure what you mean by this, but the test doesn’t yet highlight areas needing improvement in an easy-to-understand manner (for most people)
5. Data Scientists or those with some technical background can take their raw data from TruDiagnostic and manually put it through the publicly available clock algorithms. This is certainly beyond the scope of the article though.
Steve Horvath created one of the original and most widely used epigenetic “clocks”. That’s the technology used in myDNAge tests (which I covered in the article).
Hope that’s helpful!