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Embracing the biohacker ethos of “Test, don’t guess,” individuals are increasingly seeking methods to ascertain their cellular and organ aging processes. These proactive measures aim to inform lifestyle adjustments and supplement choices for enhanced longevity and well-being. These aging tests, including DNA tests, are gaining traction in the health and wellness space.
Various assessments are available, from analyzing gut microbiota or blood proteins as indicators of healthy aging to those delving into DNA alterations for deeper insights.
Recently, I experimented with a biological age DNA test kit from Tally Health, a New York-based company. For $249, their cheek swab test approximates biological age and provides tailored recommendations to potentially improve the results.
TallyAge: Unlocking Your Epigenetic Age
Adiv Johnson, the Head of Scientific Affairs and Education at Tally Health, stated that numerous users have reported the test serving as a catalyst for significant positive changes in their lives.
The TallyAge test, launched in 2023, has been validated by a recent peer-reviewed study from the Tally Health team. The research established a correlation between elevated TallyAge scores and an increased predisposition to various illnesses and health conditions, including pulmonary fibrosis, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, cancers, and tumors.
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Johnson further explained that ongoing research endeavors are focused on identifying factors that can either reduce or elevate TallyAge scores.
Delving into the Science of TallyAge
The fundamental blueprint of DNA is virtually identical across all cells within the human body.
TallyAge operates by measuring DNA methylation. This process involves the attachment of chemical tags, known as methyl groups, to DNA. These tags influence gene expression and interpretation without modifying the fundamental DNA sequence itself.
Lifestyle changes, encompassing diet, physical activity, stress levels, and smoking habits, can exert influence over DNA methylation, a critical aspect of epigenetics. The degree of methylation can fluctuate considerably across diverse cell types and tissues.
Johnson clarified that their methodology involves analyzing hundreds of thousands of DNA methylation sites throughout the entire genome.
He elaborated, “The output provides a value indicating the methylation status at each analyzed site within the sample. Essentially, the algorithm processes a substantial volume of values to derive a biological age estimation.”
Test recipients typically receive their results within approximately six weeks following sample submission.
Cheek Swab Methodology: Accessibility and Accuracy
Researchers have explored diverse sample types, ranging from blood and saliva to even sweat, to ascertain biological age.
Johnson asserted that cheek swabs offer comparable accuracy to blood samples, while providing enhanced accessibility as they can be conveniently self-administered at home.
“While both tissue types exhibit viability for epigenetic age prediction, the primary advantage of a cheek swab lies in its non-invasive and painless nature,” Johnson noted.
Tally Health commonly advises users to undergo testing once or twice annually, acknowledging that tangible changes in lifestyle may require months, or even a year, to manifest in test outcomes.
TallyAge in Context: A Comparative Perspective
Currently, a universally accepted single biomarker definitively indicating the rate of aging remains elusive. Consequently, consumers face the challenge of discerning the most appropriate assessment method.
Among the aging tests evaluated, Tally Health yielded the most favorable outcome.
As a 42-year-old individual, my TallyAge result indicated a biological age slightly below 37.
Johnson highlighted that this result places me within the top 5.7% of all TallyAge users and among the top 3.2% within my peer demographic.
This encouraging result contrasted with a subsequent eye photography-based aging test at the Biohackers World conference, which estimated my age at 46.
Johnson acknowledged the variability across different testing methodologies: “If an individual were to undertake 10 distinct tests from 10 different providers, they would likely receive 10 disparate results.”
“The range of these results could be substantial, potentially spanning 20 years across different tests,” he continued. “This variance arises from the utilization of diverse algorithms by different companies, and not all available tests are equally optimized for accurate and meaningful prediction.”
He referenced Tally Health’s recent publication in GeroScience, which demonstrated the superior disease correlation of their model compared to others.
Johnson also pointed out that aging rates can vary across tissues in different organs, such as cheeks and eyes.
Popular Lifestyle Changes for a Younger Biological Age
TallyAge users are prompted to complete a lifestyle survey encompassing their dietary habits, fitness regimen, sleep patterns, mental well-being, and daily routines. This assessment provides personalized recommendations for potentially lowering their score. My “moderately healthy” lifestyle, typical of an elder millennial mother, was identified as having opportunities for enhancement.
Tally Health membership, priced at $129 monthly, offers personalized action plans, tests every six months, along with supplements and discounts on products.
“We’ve observed that many individuals embrace the challenge of attempting to reduce their biological age,” Johnson commented. “The process becomes akin to gamification, where individuals find motivation in tracking and optimizing their score.”
Smoking cessation and reduced alcohol consumption are frequently cited lifestyle changes. Johnson noted that Tally Health’s “data indicates that any level of alcohol intake increases the likelihood of a higher biological age,” particularly with consumption of 15 or more alcoholic beverages per week.
Future Directions for Tally Health
Tally Health’s recent publication established a link between exposure to PBB-153, a synthetic flame retardant banned in the US in the 1970s, and elevated biological age. The ban followed accidental contamination of animal feed in Michigan.
“Our findings also revealed that individuals with untreated HIV tend to exhibit an older epigenetic profile. However, antiretroviral treatment is associated with a significantly younger epigenetic age compared to untreated groups,” Johnson stated.
“These investigations are crucial in deepening our understanding of the interventions and variables impacting epigenetic age,” he concluded. “We have also identified methylation sites within our model that play a significant role in driving these associations.”