According to a new study, researchers can read a “signature” based off all 150 of your genes and determine your biological age, which scientist believe is a better measure for determining someones overall health.

“People age at different rates”

In the new study, researchers find that their able to establish whether or not a person ages quickly or slowly as early as their 30s. They assessed a group of 38 year olds by how well their body system functions , and determined their biological age. The participants cognitive abilities,blood pressure, kidney markers, liver, lung, and immune system were all tested. The results were 38 year olds biological age ranged from 28-61 years old. This means that some 38 year olds bodies were still functioning like a 28 year old , whereas some 38 year olds bodies are functioning like a 61 year old. Scientist found this intriguing, that a middled age group had such variation. Most of these studies usually are performed on older participants to get answers on age-related disease. This leads me to the next part of the study…

Researcher studied the genes of 65 year olds, searching for genes that showed that these participants were maintaining their health as they aged. They found a RNA classifier (150 genes) that was used to calculate a “healthy” gene age, to test their calculations they tested a group of 70 year olds. The results were consistent with their calculations a higher score does indeed mean better overall health and cognitive health. Researchers even discovered a correlation between lower healthy gene scores and Alzheimer’s disease, However, as we learned from Andrew, correlation is not causation , therefore researchers cannot conclude that every person who has a low healthy gene score will have the Alzheimer’s disease.

This is a relatively new discovery so their aren’t much studies on it yet, but there were able to look at a group of 70 years olds and determine amongst them who had healthy cognition and who did not. They were also able to look at 38 years old and see variation in biological age. Their ultimate goal is  to use those genes to find out the cause of the Alzheimer’s disease, and be able to give someone a blood test 10 years prior to getting infected.

It shocked me to discover that in a couple more years health will not be determined solely by chronological age. Scientist actually want to start studying young people aging in order to prevent diseases that are associated with aging. I actually took a biological test while writing this blog found here, although it may not be as accurate as a blood sample. It can give you an idea as to where your body is at, at this point in time. My current score is 5 gene years , no wonder I look so childlike !