How old are YOU really? AI-powered tests reveal your biological age

New AI-powered tests tell consumers their biological age by determining the rate at which organs, cells and tissues decay.

Startups are launching home tests that collect blood, urine or cheek swabs to analyze changes in the ‘epigenome’, the machine that helps read the DNA code.

Tally Health, one of these companies, recently presented 13 years of research showing epigenetic changes in mice can be safely reversed to improve tissue function, similar to reinstalling mobile software.

And the company believes the same can be done with humans.

Elysium also has a biological age test that provides “science-based recommendations” to help consumers improve their bodily functions, hoping to turn back time.

Consumer interest in the longevity space has exploded, with the global longevity economy projected to reach $27 trillion by 2026 and the AgeTech segment to reach $2.7 trillion by 2025.

And while the idea of ​​”turning back time” sounds like science fiction, the concept is a real-world service that can be purchased for as little as $299 per month.

Current biological tests harness the power of the epigenetic clock, a predictive test based on data from 8,000 biological samples from 51 healthy human tissues and cell types.

Developed by Steven Horvath, a geneticist and biostatistician at UCLA, in 2013, it measures DNA methylation patterns associated with aging and disease and uses an algorithm to guess a person’s age, WIRED reports.

Tally Health launched its technology on Feb. 23, touting it as improving health and extending lifespan at the cellular level.

Dr. David Sinclair, a biologist and co-founder of Harvard University, said in a statement: “DNA is no longer the sole predictor of our fate or longevity.

‘Our genetics determine less than 10 percent of our lifespan; more than 90 percent is the result of our daily lifestyle choices and environment, and much of the research and interventions in the near future will be aimed at extending human health reach.’

“The interest in aging has led to tremendous research insights in the field worldwide and has taken the science of aging to a new level.”

Tally Health requires a simple cheek swab that is analyzed by the TallyAge clock, which is trained on the largest DNA dataset for adult human buccal tissue, with more than 8,000 samples.

After a user’s sample is analyzed, they receive personalized insights and recommendations to extend longevity and unique supplements to get them started.

Tally Head CEO Melanie Goldey said: ‘We built Tally to be the science-backed health ally for anyone looking to improve their health and extend longevity.’

The service is offered through a monthly subscription, allowing members to test regularly.

Consumers can choose between three, six or 12 months and pay between $199 and $129 per month.

Elysium was also co-founded by a chief scientist, Dr. Leonard Guarente, who began researching aging in 1982 and uses epigenetic clocks as the basis for the company’s technology.

“Epigenetic clocks have been a great advancement in aging because they allow the precise study of biological aging without the need for a long timeline,” said Guarente, who is also an MIT professor.

“For consumers, Index was the first and most accurate measure of aging and remains the only product that allows for a simple saliva-based biological age test.

The addition of nine systems extends this concept to measure aging in specific trajectories, providing even more useful information for making lifestyle changes to improve health.

“Harnessing this new technology through the Aging Research Center presents the exciting opportunity to massively accelerate aging breakthroughs by working directly with consumers who choose it and have the greatest potential benefit.”

Elysium’s test is called Index and requires a salvia sample from consumers, which is then fed into the machine learning algorithms that measure 10 different aspects of aging.

“With the superior precision of our Algorithmic Platform for Epigenetic Examination (APEX), Elysium calculates your biological age and system ages by examining sites on your DNA where methylation has occurred,” said Elysium.

DNA methylation is an epigenetic modification that affects the way genes are expressed and their genome-wide pattern changes predictably with age.

“We’re using the custom Elysium chip, developed with the help of biotechnology leader Illumina, to analyze your methylation patterns through a computational approach that significantly improves on previous biological clocks.”