Can DIY Saliva Tests, Popularized by Kim Kardashian, Truly Reveal Your 'Biological Age'? Experts Weigh In
Can DIY Saliva Tests, Popularized by Kim Kardashian, Truly Reveal Your 'Biological Age'? Experts Weigh In
.jpg "Can DIY Saliva Tests, Popularized by Kim Kardashian, Truly Reveal Your 'Biological Age'? Experts Weigh In") |
| Can DIY Saliva Tests, Popularized by Kim Kardashian, Truly Reveal Your 'Biological Age'? Experts Weigh In (PC: Instagram) |
The idea of determining one's "biological age" through a simple saliva test has gained significant attention, especially with high-profile endorsements like that of Kim Kardashian.
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As companies continue to launch DIY kits promising to reveal this elusive number, many are eager to see what their true biological age might be. However, the science behind these tests is more complex and less conclusive than it may seem.
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Can DIY Saliva Tests, Popularized by Kim Kardashian, Truly Reveal Your 'Biological Age'? Experts Weigh In pic.twitter.com/7WhagwtghV
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Biological age tests aim to differentiate between your chronological age, which is the number of years you've lived, and your biological age, which is a measure of how your body has aged at a cellular level. This concept was recently highlighted in an episode of *Keeping Up With the Kardashians*, where the tests appeared to offer a glimpse into the participants' health by estimating how old their bodies really are. The tests primarily focus on epigenetics, a field that studies changes in gene expression that don't involve alterations to the underlying DNA sequence.
One popular method used in these tests is the measurement of DNA methylation levels. Methylation involves the addition of methyl groups to DNA molecules, which can influence how genes are expressed. These methylation patterns change as we age, and by analyzing them, scientists can estimate a person's biological age. This concept was first brought to light by Professor Steve Horvath, a German geneticist who developed an "ageing clock" in 2011. His research showed that by measuring specific epigenetic patterns, one could estimate biological age with some degree of accuracy.
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However, recent studies suggest that these tests may not be as reliable as initially thought. Researchers from Harvard University conducted a study to examine how stem cells within different tissues and organs impact the epigenetic clock. They discovered that the biological age of stem cells can vary significantly depending on the tissue type. For example, stem cells in skeletal muscle and blood showed a lower biological age compared to mature cells, while stem cells in the skin and intestine had similar epigenetic ages to their mature counterparts.
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These findings indicate that the biological age of a tissue is influenced by the activity and condition of its stem cells. Since stem cells can change in response to factors such as aging, injury, or disease, this variability could affect the accuracy of biological age tests. The Harvard researchers cautioned that their findings have "important repercussions for the interpretation of commercial biological age tests" and emphasized the need to refine these tests for better accuracy and utility in the future. Moreover, while epigenetic clocks offer a fascinating insight into the aging process, there is still debate over whether these tests can be used to recommend lifestyle changes effectively.
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