Belsky Study Finds 18 Biomarkers Track Aging at Up to 3 Years Per Year

3 articles · Updated · YourTango · May 20

A 2015 study of about 1,000 people all aged 38 found biological aging varied sharply, with some participants aging nearly 3 years for every chronological year while others aged close to zero.
Using 18 markers—including blood pressure, cholesterol, organ function, dental health and metabolism—researchers estimated biological age and linked older-looking faces to faster internal aging.
Biologically older participants also performed worse on balance, coordination and problem-solving tests and reported more difficulty with routine tasks such as climbing stairs.
Daniel Belsky said the work shows aging can be measured in relatively young adults, potentially helping detect early decline and guide therapies to delay age-related disease.
The findings later drew criticism from Anne Newman, who argued the index mainly captured obesity and reduced activity, but Belsky said reanalysis showed the measures reflected more than weight gain.

We can now measure biological age, but is accelerated aging a personal failure or a reflection of societal inequality?

With at-home aging tests and new drugs on the horizon, is science on the verge of conquering the aging process?