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Some people reach the age of 85 in very good physical and mental health.
And some people have extensive physical or cognitive difficulties by the
age of 70. For this reason, some physicians assert that a person's biological
age, rather than their chronological age, is a more important indicator
of health and potential life span.
Why are some people more susceptible to physical and mental deterioration
as they get older, while others remain healthy and sharp to an older age?
Is it possible to measure biological age? Researchers are looking for
the answers by trying to identify age-related changes that gauge physical
age and predict life span more accurately than by counting years. These
are called biomarkers of aging.
For example, blood pressure readings and cholesterol levels are taken
to measure the health of the heart. Are there similar physical or more
likely biochemical measurements that could gauge our "real age"
and serve as biomarkers of aging? None have been conclusively identified
thus far, but scientists hope to one day find these markers, create associated
tests or assays, and perhaps most importantly develop new knowledge that
may help us find ways to slow the physical decline associated with the
aging process.
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What
are biomarkers of aging? Click here
