Biological vs. Chronological Age: How Old Are You on the Inside?

A key focus in my clinical practice when I am working with clients to help them to optimize their health and resolve health issues is putting together for them a program to help them to be able to reverse their Biological Age.

Chronological vs. Biological Age

Chronological age is your age in years.
 
Biological age, also called physiological or internal age, is a measure of how well or poorly your body is functioning relative to your actual calendar age.
 
This concept would make sense to most individuals: we have all interacted with individuals who seem to be much younger – or older than their age in years.
 
We are able to assess Chronological Age via several methods: I use a technology device when I am working in person with clients which provides a comparison between Biological Age and Chronological Age.

In addition to this technology device, there are a couple of lab tests which provide information related to Biological Age vs. Chronological Age: a test to assess telomere length and health as well as a test to assess methylation function.
 

Telomeres
 
Telomeres can be described as end caps on chromosomes – a similar concept to the plastic tips on shoe laces.
 
As we age and our cells divide multiple times telomeres shorten and the shorter they get the more prone we are to chronic, degenerative disease.
 
Our lifestyle choices and situation can also impact on telomere length, for example eating poor quality food, not sleeping enough, dealing with severe stress and other factors can all have an impact of shortening telomeres.
 
 Methylation
 
Methylation is a biochemical process which happens continuously in our bodies.  As we age, our methylation function deteriorates.
 
A simple explanation of methylation is as follows:
 
“What is methylation? Without getting too technical, methylation is the addition of a single carbon and three hydrogen atoms (called a methyl group) to another molecule. The removal of a methyl group is called demethylation. Think of billions of little on/off switches inside your body that control everything from your stress response and how your body makes energy from food, to your brain chemistry and detoxification. That’s methylation and demethylation”.
 
Reversing Biological Age has the potential to extend Healthspan:
 
Healthspan vs. Lifespan
 
 Lifespan is the number of years we live: Healthspan is the duration of time we live during which we stay healthy – the maintenance of full function as nearly as possible to the end of life.
 
Recent medical advances has continuously extended lifespan, however many individuals spend differing lengths of time towards the ends of their lives dealing with poor quality of life (such as dementia, Alzheimer’s, physical challenges that significantly impact on mobility etc.)

 
Reversing Your Biological Age

If you are interested in finding out how you can reverse your Biological Age and potentially impact on your Healthspan, reach out to me:

Rob Lamberton

Phone: 778-227-4952

Email: Rob@RobLamberton.com