There is a difference between your biological age and your chronological age. That means that your cells and organs may function like a 40 year old even though you are 50. They may also function like a 60 year old even though you are 50. Your biology may not match up with the length of time you have been here.
The best way to match your actual age and your biological age is by measuring the length of your telomeres. Telomeres are strands of DNA that cap chromosomes and protect genes. The telomeres are red in the image above. Your telomeres get shorter each time a cell divides and so they become progressively shorter as time goes by. That determines the biological age of the cell. When the telomere reaches a certain point, the cell stops dividing or dies. These senescent cells build up and produce chemicals that cause inflammation and chronic illnesses.
The rate of telomere shortening is not fixed. You can change it. Smoking,, pollution, stress, social isolation, excessive drinking, and eating processed foods cause increased oxidant production which causes telomeres to shorten faster. Oxidants also cause direct damage to proteins, DNA, and other components in our cells
.Here is some really great news. Certain proven, inexpensive generic medications are antioxidants that slow telomere shortening and cellular aging. Statins, losartan, lisinopril, metformin, and aspirin all slow telomere shortening. Moreover, high-risk diabetic patients on a protocol containing these medications live 8 years longer with fewer complications compared with patients on usual care. We can slow the rate of telomere shortening right now! Why wouldn’t we do that?
Great info Bill. The BBC did a program a few years ago now taking health challenged people, measuring their chrono and actual ages, then changed lifestyle factors for a 12,week program. Staggeringly good results. I actually use HRV to tell me how I’m aging. I have been measuring every morning for 5 years. My numbers match the 30-39 year old demographic as a 67 year old.
Hi, Interesting, however, i tend to thing this approach is still ass-backwards. I am more oriented to Lifestyle Medicine, including a Whole Foods, Plant-Based diet, and I just switched doctors. My new doctor is part of a clinic and when I came in to discuss the results of my first physical, it started not witth them telling me what I needed to do differently, but with them asking me how I did it. I will now be teaching a plant-based nutrition workshop at their facility. I turned 72 in January, and I went #WFPB 8 years ago, which turned all my biomarkers around. No reason not to. It's simple.