Biological Age vs. Chronological Age: Redefining Age in the Digital Era

What if you happen to might sluggish—and even reverse—the way in which your physique ages? A brand new wave of health-tech startups, powered by synthetic intelligence and cutting-edge medical analysis, is making it potential to measure not simply what number of years you’ve lived but additionally how effectively your physique is definitely ageing.

The idea of “organic age” isn’t new, nevertheless it’s more and more gaining traction amongst medical consultants, who say it might remodel how we method preventive care, well being optimization, and ageing.

“That transition—from candle-counting to function-assessment—is important. It permits us to care much less concerning the quantity and extra about how somebody’s physique is definitely doing,” Dr. Invoice Kapp, CEO of longevity analysis firm Fountain Life, instructed Decrypt. “Two people may be 60 on paper however have considerably completely different dangers for coronary heart illness, reminiscence loss, or restoration from sickness.”

Kapp defined that specializing in organic age alters how healthcare suppliers follow preventive medication.

“It is not about ready for issues however seeing early wear-and-tear and appearing earlier than issues collapse. That is a better approach to age,” he stated. “It gives people with a greater alternative to remain robust and unbiased longer—no matter what the calendar says.”

The idea of organic age is attributed to British doctor Alex Consolation’s 1969 examine, “Check-Battery to Measure Getting older-Charge in Man.” Consolation’s examine was groundbreaking as a result of it launched the notion of organic age as an alternative choice to chronological age for assessing how an individual is ageing.

Age is commonly seen as only a quantity—however not all numbers inform the identical story. Chronological age is solely what number of years you’ve got been alive; organic age displays how effectively—or poorly—your physique is functioning relative to that quantity.

An individual could be 40 years outdated on paper, but when their physique operates like a 50-year-old, then that is their organic age. As a result of the physique is nearer to 50, the particular person might face elevated dangers for age-related illnesses reminiscent of cardiovascular points, most cancers, or cognitive decline. Conversely, a decrease organic age might sign higher well being and an extended potential lifespan.

With longevity consciousness turning into extra of a spotlight in healthcare, a rising variety of health-tech firms are growing instruments to trace and reverse organic ageing. Based on a December 2024 report by market analysis agency Priority Analysis, the anti-aging trade is anticipated to achieve $140 billion by 2034.

A rising market of apps

Unsurprisingly, the variety of instruments claiming to trace or reverse organic age is rising, too. However which of them work—and the way do you select? Based on Dr. David Cheishvili, chief innovation officer at EpiMedTech World, organic ageing isn’t one thing that may be measured with only one quantity, calling it a posh course of that performs out throughout completely different programs within the physique.

“There are plenty of biomarkers folks speak about—telomeres, gene expression, metabolism— however in my opinion, DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks are at present probably the most dependable in the case of estimating organic age,” Cheishvili instructed Decrypt. “If a platform consists of these and makes use of peer-reviewed, validated strategies, that’s often signal it’s grounded in stable science.”

Let’s break that down. DNA methylation-based epigenetic clocks estimate an individual’s organic age by measuring chemical modifications to their DNA that accumulate over time.

Because the co-developer of the epiAge epigenetic age check, which analyzes DNA methylation information from saliva, Cheishvili identified purple flags that customers ought to be careful for when selecting a long life app.

“The very first thing to bear in mind is that these firms are promoting one thing—and that’s high-quality, nevertheless it means you ought to be cautious,” he stated. “If you happen to see large claims about reversing ageing with a complement and there’s no scientific information or peer-reviewed analysis behind it, that’s a purple flag. Actual change takes time, consistency, and proof—not magic drugs.”

One other firm trying to help the monitoring of organic age is Rejuve AI. Launched in 2023, Rejuve AI is an AI-powered longevity analysis community co-founded by Jasmine Smith and Dr. Ben Goertzel, the founding father of decentralized AI developer SingularityNET.

Earlier this month,, Rejuve AI launched “Longevity,” a cell app that tracks a number of metrics, together with weight, sleep, and eating regimen. These metrics are mixed to offer customers their organic age.

“Organic age is turning into one thing that we have to develop biomarkers for after we speak about measuring how a lot we’ve improved or reversed ageing,” Smith instructed Decrypt.

Rejuve.AI’s not too long ago launched Longevity app is a part of a broader decentralized science motion that makes use of wearable integrations, well being information, and synthetic intelligence to estimate and assist scale back customers’ organic ages.

Smith famous that curiosity in well being and longevity is rising yearly, pushed by high-profile moments like the discharge of Bryan Johnson’s Netflix documentary “Don’t Die,” and the recognition of ideas like Blue Zones.

“Initiatives like Make America Wholesome Once more are additionally pushing conversations about meals high quality and long-standing well being considerations into the highlight,” she stated. “On the similar time, personalised and preventative care is gaining traction—even in mainstream medication, the place extra clinicians are embracing holistic approaches. It’s an thrilling time to be a part of this shift.”

Quite a few different platforms additionally assist monitor organic age and provide insights into ageing. InsideTracker’s InnerAge 2.0 makes use of blood biomarkers to estimate age and provides personalised well being ideas. AgelessRx’s Organic Age Calculator analyzes life-style and lab information to recommend anti-aging methods. Elysium Well being’s Index measures DNA methylation to offer exact epigenetic age estimates.

AI meets longevity science

Specialists highlighted that synthetic intelligence is likely one of the most promising instruments reworking longevity science proper now.

“I’m truly fairly enthusiastic about how AI is getting used on this area. It’s giving us new methods to investigate complicated information and spot patterns we wouldn’t catch in any other case,” Cheishvili stated. “For researchers working in ageing, AI feels a bit like what calculators have been to mathematicians—it doesn’t do the pondering for you, nevertheless it makes the work a lot sooner and extra highly effective.”

Constructing on that potential, Dr. Helen Messier, chief medical and science officer at Fountain Life, stated AI is already making significant progress in well being and longevity. Nonetheless, she famous, the expertise faces limitations that require cautious consideration because it evolves.

“Ethically, there’s a rising want to make sure this information isn’t misused by insurers or employers,” Messier. “As this area evolves, we now have to deal with organic age like another delicate medical information—with privateness, consent, and fairness in thoughts.”