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The field of age-related biomarkers is vast and continuously evolving, with the latest research focusing on a variety of biomarkers including routine laboratory biomarkers and other aging biomarkers related to physical capability and organ function ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
Routine laboratory biomarkers are commonly analyzed in accredited laboratories based on standardized methods. They include inflammation markers such as interleukins (IL) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα), C-reactive protein (CRP), lipids, creatinine, cystatin C, urea, and albumin among others. These biomarkers are often associated with aging-related inflammation, chemotaxis, production of natural killer cells, cardiovascular risk factors, and the function and integrity of organs such as the kidney and liver. In addition, glucose-related biomarkers like glycated hemoglobin (Hba1c) and glucose (fastened or tolerance) are indicators for diabetic risk ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
For the future, it is anticipated that biomarker collection will further expand to include salivary and dried blood spot assays, as well as increased scanning markers. Future developments in metabonomics, analysis of metabolic profiles, and proteomics will lead to the inclusion of many new classes of biomarkers. There will also be an increase in the development of genetic biomarkers due to the development of inexpensive genotyping techniques. In addition, the future will likely see the inclusion of multiple biomarker measurements that are more indicative of the physiological response to challenge ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
In terms of clinical studies, there is a need for systematic longitudinal studies to identify which biomarkers should be used to study aging and cellular senescence. However, there are numerous potential markers which differ in their difficulty to sample, handle, process, and cost ncbi.nlm.nih.gov.
In conclusion, the study of age-related biomarkers continues to evolve with new advancements in technology and research methodologies. It is crucial to keep abreast with these developments to understand the aging process better and develop effective interventions to promote healthy aging.
The future of tests such as the Levine BioAge test developed by Dr. Morgan Levine is promising, yet still in its early stages. These tests, which are based on biological aging clocks, measure a person's biological age in relation to their chronological age, and have the potential to provide valuable insights into a person's health and aging process journals.plos.org, wired.com, medgadget.com.
These tests are based on epigenetic aging clocks, which look at patterns in DNA methylation, the chemical tags on DNA code that affect the activity of genes. Epigenetic aging clocks were first published by Steven Horvath in 2013. Dr. Morgan Levine further developed this concept with the PhenoAge clock in 2018, which predicts overall mortality risk and the risk of several diseases based on a person's blood sample wired.com.
The Levine BioAge test measures the cumulative impact of genetics, lifestyle, and environmental factors on a person's epigenome to calculate their biological age. This information could potentially be used in the future to make personalized health recommendations medgadget.com.
Despite the potential benefits, there are still limitations and uncertainties surrounding these tests. The sensitivity of current epigenetic tests to lifestyle changes over a short period of time is still unknown. Furthermore, no one has repeatedly tested enough people to know whether test scores track with changes in overall health and longevity wired.com.
Another concern is that these tests are not yet regulated by the US Food and Drug Administration, and it's unclear if all of the tests on the market have been validated by other scientists wired.com.
In summary, while these tests offer an exciting new avenue for understanding the aging process and potentially informing health decisions, they are still in the early stages of development and validation. As the field progresses, we can expect to see more research on the accuracy and utility of these tests, as well as increased regulation and standardization wired.com, medgadget.com.