Biological Age & Longevity Testing 2026

Biological age testing measures how old your body is at the cellular level, which can differ from your chronological age. Most tests use epigenetic markers (DNA methylation patterns) that change with aging. A 50-year-old with healthy habits might have a biological age of 45, while someone the same age with poor health could test at 55+.

An epigenetic clock is an algorithm that analyzes DNA methylation patterns to estimate biological age. The original Horvath clock (2013) set the standard, measuring ~350 CpG sites. Newer clocks like DunedinPACE measure the rate of aging rather than just current biological age, while OMICmAge and APEX incorporate additional aging markers for improved accuracy.

TruDiagnostic's TruAge is considered the most comprehensive, using multiple algorithms (OMICmAge, DunedinPACE, SYMPHONYAge) and measuring 75+ biomarkers across 11 organ systems. Elysium Index uses the APEX algorithm developed with Yale researcher Morgan Levine and is validated in Nature Aging. GlycanAge uses a different approach (glycan analysis) that responds faster to lifestyle changes.

Most providers recommend retesting every 6-12 months to track changes from lifestyle interventions. Epigenetic age changes slowly (months to years), while glycan-based tests like GlycanAge may show changes in weeks. Testing too frequently wastes money as meaningful changes take time to manifest.

Yes, research shows biological age can be reduced through lifestyle changes. Studies have demonstrated improvements from exercise, diet optimization, stress reduction, and quality sleep. Some interventions like caloric restriction and specific supplements have shown measurable reductions in epigenetic age markers.

Epigenetic tests (TruAge, Elysium, myDNAge) analyze DNA methylation patterns that correlate with aging at a fundamental level. Blood biomarker tests (InsideTracker InnerAge) measure traditional markers like glucose, cholesterol, and inflammation that are associated with aging. Glycan tests (GlycanAge) measure sugar molecules attached to antibodies. Each approach has tradeoffs in depth, actionability, and responsiveness to interventions.

No, most biological age tests are available direct-to-consumer without a prescription. You order online, receive a collection kit at home, and mail back your sample. Some tests use a simple finger prick (myDNAge, NOVOS), cheek swab (Tally Health), or saliva sample (Elysium, EpiAging). Tests requiring a full blood draw typically partner with labs like Quest for convenient sample collection.

DunedinPACE (Pace of Aging Computed from the Epigenome) measures how fast you're aging right now, rather than just your current biological age. Developed from the Dunedin longitudinal study tracking 1,000+ people from birth, it shows whether you're aging faster or slower than 1 year per calendar year. A score of 1.0 means normal aging;below 1.0 means slower aging. This metric is better for tracking intervention effectiveness.

Biological age tests are typically not covered by health insurance as they're considered preventive/wellness testing. However, many providers accept HSA (Health Savings Account) and FSA (Flexible Spending Account) funds, making them eligible health expenses. TruDiagnostic, Elysium, and several others specifically advertise HSA/FSA eligibility. Check with your account administrator to confirm.

Research has demonstrated biological age reductions from:regular exercise (especially HIIT and resistance training), caloric restriction or time-restricted eating, quality sleep (7-9 hours), stress reduction practices like meditation, and specific supplements (Vitamin D, omega-3s, NAD+ precursors). The Horvath lab showed an 8-week lifestyle intervention reduced epigenetic age by 3.23 years. GlycanAge responds fastest to changes, showing improvements in weeks.