Epigenetic Age Tests: Are They Telling Us Anything?

I listened to Dr. Matt Kaeberlein’s latest podcast about epigenetic age tests, and I have to say, it really got me thinking. He did something smart: he actually tested these things, not just blindly trust them. He used eight different kits from four prominent companies – TruDiagnostic, Elysium, Tally Health, and DoNotAge – collecting samples on the same day and under the same conditions to ensure consistency. The results, however, were anything but consistent. https://youtu.be/NnWpkwUgCjs

Matt's main point, and I think it's a good one, is that there's a lot of noise in these tests. The results varied significantly, not just between companies but even within the same test with the same blood sample from the same company. He got two readings almost 13 years apart from the same test! That's a pretty big swing, right? It makes you wonder how much you can actually trust these numbers.

He even tricked the testing companies to see if the age he provided influenced the results. He submitted samples under the fake name "Johnny Optispan" to both Elysium and TruDiagnostic. Interestingly, Elysium reported a biological age pretty consistent. But TruDiagnostic, for Johnny, who was actually 33 and a half years old, came back with a biological age a full 13 years younger! *If anyone from TruDiagnostic could explain the algorithm please comment. Keep in mind, we're talking about the exact same samples being tested...

He also brought up the conflict of interest issue. A lot of these companies are also selling supplements and other “anti-aging” products, and they often use the test results to push those products. It makes you wonder if they're being completely objective, or if they're just trying to sell you something. For me, some of these companies I trust and some not as much.

I appreciate that Matt also acknowledged the potential value of these tests. They could be useful for motivating people to make healthier choices, and maybe they'll get more accurate as the science improves. But right now, he's skeptical, and so am I. Also, some of these tests may come back negative and cause stress which will actually harm your health.

The thing is, even if these tests were perfectly accurate, they're only measuring one piece of the aging puzzle (possibly 1/12). Epigenetic clocks measure correlation, not a cause. They're connected to aging, sure, but they don't tell the whole story. There are many factors at play, like your lifestyle, environment, and genetics. Focusing just on your epigenetic age might make you miss the bigger picture. And this is important because you see all these influencers talking about their "biological age," and it makes it seem like this is the magic number. But if you took the same test multiple times, you'd probably get different numbers each time!! So, I'm also a little suspicious that some people are only sharing the results that make them look good.

So, what do I think you should do? If you're curious about these tests, give them a try if you want. But don't take them too seriously. They're not a crystal ball, and they're definitely not a replacement for functional outcomes (are you feeling well, energized, sharp, etc.). Eating well, exercising regularly, managing stress, getting enough sleep – those are still the best things you can do for your health, regardless of what some test tells you your biological age is. Matt's podcast is a good reminder to be a critical consumer and to focus on the things we know work. We also need to see more transparency from these companies about their methods and quality control. It's a fascinating area of research, but we need a lot more data before we can really say what these tests mean.

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