How to calculate the difference between biological age and chronological age.
What if the age of our body was different from what we read on our identity card?
Professor Valerio Sanguigni explains how to calculate the propensity to age (and possibly intervene to slow down the ageing process).
There are those who always feel 25 (even though they are well into their 40s) and those who feel their years are all on their shoulders. Chronological age does not always correspond to that of our soul. And sometimes chronological age does not even correspond to biological age, which is another way of counting years. In recent times, the concept of biological age has been the subject of research by many scientists and doctors because it is believed to be an indicative factor for health and in particular for the onset or otherwise of certain pathologies. "If chronological age is the one shown on the identity card - explains to Fanpage.it Professor Valerio Sanguigni, cardiologist and longevity scholar - biological age is the one that is calculated on some parameters linked to the aging process, or those responsible for some pathologies such as arthrosis, hypertension, atherosclerosis, or chronic degenerative diseases. Each chronological age correlates with the efficiency of our organic systems".
What if biological age is different from chronological age?
It is not a given that our chronological age corresponds to our biological age. On paper we may be 40 but biologically 55 or if we are lucky 30. The key words to understand the reasons for this possible gap between ages are genotype and phenotype. "The genotype is the hereditary genetic heritage - explains Sanguigni - What we get from our parents, the propensity to develop or defend ourselves from diseases. The genotype affects the aging process by 30%". The remaining 70% depends on the phenotype. "Environment, lifestyle, physical activity, diet, stress, good or bad habits: all these elements make up the phenotype that affects our biological age by a very significant percentage". Inheriting a negative genotype is certainly bad luck, but with our habits we have the possibility to influence the aging process and give it a different direction from the one we inherited. "While we have no possibility of intervention on the genotype, on the phenotype, we can work. Adopting a healthy lifestyle, no smoking, correct nutrition can influence the biological reactions that occur within our organism and that determine the aging process".
How to calculate your biological age
Professor Sanguigni has developed an algorithm that can calculate the tendency to age. "There is no standard method to establish the biological age of an individual. Mine involves collecting a drop of blood through a finger prick. The sample is examined using a machine that will tell us the quantity of free radicals present in the blood, the level of oxidative stress in the body and also the quantity of antioxidant defenses present. This test is accompanied by another test that studies the ability of the arteries (particularly the microcirculation) to vasodilate; the greater the blood flow, the greater the quantity of oxygen it carries, the better the condition of the body. All this data is then processed using an algorithm that will tell us whether the chronological age corresponds to the biological age and the tendency of the body to age more or less prematurely". Although there is no right age to take this test, the ideal could be to do it starting from the age of 35-40. "Even when you're young, you can intervene and start defending yourself from aging by working on your phenotype." A recent article in the Wall Street Journal on the topic of biological age reports the skeptical position of some scientists according to whom, despite having this type of information at their disposal, it's a stretch to think that it could be used to live longer. "The future is predicted by sorcerers," jokes Sanguigni, "But it's true that we have a series of data that demonstrate that those who intervene on this balance, those who manage to work on their lifestyle when they notice a discrepancy between their chronological and biological age, can actually prevent some diseases and live longer and better."
