People age at different rates. Some “look” and “feel” older than their chronological age while others look younger than their chronological age.
Our biological age is a better parameter of our health well being and life span than our chronological age.
DNA is the hardware, genetics is the operating system and DNA methylation and other epigenetic factors are the software that programs the genome.
A paradigm shift in the search for biological age markers occurred with the discovery of the “epigenetic clock” by Horvath, which is based on the measurement of DNA methylation status at 500 strategic positions in DNA.
Studies suggest that accelerated “epigenetic clock” might be associated with increased risk for several age-related chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disease and cancer at later age. This is however still an open field and more studies are needed.
Importantly, “epigenetics” in different from “genetics” is potentially reversible by dietary interventions and lifestyle changes.
Preliminary studies are coming up that show that dietary changes can cause deceleration of epigenetic clock in certain people, however this is still an open life.
Lifestyle changes including exercise and change in dietary habits have been recommended by national medical associations for some time, however we need more data about the most advisable changes and they should be personalized.
One way for us to learn about advisable lifestyle changes is sharing our experiences with others and analyzing the impact of differences in lifestyle. This is now possible using sharing technologies such as Apps as well as artificial intelligence.
Our Biological age is better parameter of our health, well-being and life span than our chronological age.
But how do we know our “biological age”?
It has been believed that if we can define the true “biological age” we might test and design interventions that will decelerate the rate of biological aging. During the past decades, extensive effort has beed invested in identifying different parameters that could predict “biological aging” and life span such as measures of frailty, graying of hair, aging of skin, levels of different kinds of white blood cells. However most of these markers found to offer no advantage over knowing your chronological age
- Measures of frailty
- Graying of hair
- Aging of skin
- Levels of different kinds of white blood cells
After extensive data mining, we have discovered a single age-related CG methylation region that is sufficient to accurately predict biological age using saliva.
Although it is still not clear how one can decelerate his age lifestyle changes recommended by most national medical associations are perhaps a point to start. Older age is a “red flag” that suggests that perhaps it is time to make some lifestyle changes.
We consider a “red flag” an “epigenetic age” that is older than the standard deviation of the test. Standard deviation provides an idea about the distribution in the normal population which at this point of the analysis is 5 years. As more tests are accumulated we will get a more accurate number of the “normal distribution”.
A “red flag” might prompt you to act on your lifestyle.
As the science of Epigenetics discovers exciting new approaches to determine your true age, two important questions arise: what is your epigenetics and why does it matter?
Simply stated, more than 99% of your DNA is identical to everyone else’s. However, a small part of your DNA, which may vary from person to person, makes you the unique person that you are.
In addition to these genetic differences our DNA is marked during early development with chemical marks termed DNA methylation as well as other epigenetic marks. These marks program how our DNA functions, specifically how the same DNA can code different functions in different organs such as lung, brain blood.
What we learned in the last decade is that DNA methylation and other epigenetic marks could also be changed by our experiences, exposures and lifestyles. For example, maternal care can change epigenetic marks in children. Our food, stress alcohol social exposures all can affect DNA methylation and other epigenetic marks. So, although we have no control over the genes we inherited we do have some control over the way our DNA is programmed.
Epigenetics holds the key to your overall health and well-being. Aberrant epigenetic programming of our DNA could lead to different kinds of diseases from Cancer to Alzheimer and Diabetes.
Even better, these findings will lead to new ideas how to prevent and treat or cure Cancer, Alzheimer’s, Diabetes, Addiction and others…perhaps, before they occur.
Right now, HKG Epitherapeutics is a pioneer in developing the most advanced medical innovations for early detection and prevention of diseases that affect huge populations of people worldwide using DNA methylation markers. Our visions are already happening.
EpiAging tests make sense only within a dynamic life-long life style, environmental and health management system.
A personalized evaluation including intervention will be generated based on the health and lifestyle information you provided.
Updates on your health and lifestyle parameters periodically to activate the life-long personalized analysis report
Continuously analyze Epiaging test results, general health parameters, personal interventions and its outcomes of multiple users using state of the art machine learning algorithms.
Personalized analysis with some possible routes for improvement.
Coevolving of your well being and our “Epiaging” learning environment.
We send new kit to the customer. In the event of a second sample failure, you will be able to request a refund for the purchase price of your kit after subtracting shipping and handling charges.
The epigenetic age reflects the biological events that lead to aging. It is similar but not identical to the chronological age.
When it moves faster it is an indication of faster aging and when it moves slower aging is slowed down.
Examining data from more than 3000 people we calculated the average epigenetic clock for each age group.
You can compare the average epigenetic age to the result that you have received after conducting an EpiAge test. If your epigenetic age is younger than the average, you are doing better than the average population.
We perform three independent tests on your saliva using next generation sequencing technology. We provide you with an average of the three tests and the technical accuracy of the score. The closer the technical accuracy is to 100%, the closer the tests results were to each other.
