Everyone strives for a life filled with more years and better health. A crucial factor in achieving this goal is making informed lifestyle decisions. Understanding how old your body really is, compared to your chronological age, plays a significant role in grasping the full picture of your well-being.
In pursuit of deeper insights into our health, we reached out to Dr. Yap Chew from Epimorphy, who holds the position of Director of Epigenetic Technologies. The conversation revolved around myDNAge®, an innovative approach developed under his guidance. This tool offers individuals a window into their biological age, providing a clearer perspective on their overall health status.
Dr. Chew highlighted that having knowledge about one’s biological age could be the key to unlocking a healthier and potentially longer life by guiding them towards better lifestyle choices tailored specifically to their needs.
What drove the creation of Epimorphy?
In 2013, a groundbreaking tool known as the Horvath Clock caught the eye of Dr. Larry Jia, the visionary behind Epimorphy, LLC and The Epigenetics Company, Zymo Research Corporation. Recognizing its potential to revolutionize aging research, Dr. Jia quickly secured an exclusive deal with UCLA to bring this innovative epigenetic age predictor into the market under his company’s banner.
Now at the forefront of personal health management, the myDNAge test stands out as a critical asset for tracking wellness outcomes. Developed from this unique partnership between academia and industry, it underscores not just the advancement in scientific tools but also highlights a proactive approach towards managing one’s health through groundbreaking technological insights. This collaboration marks a significant leap forward in understanding and harnessing the power of genetics for enhancing life quality and longevity.
What is the MyDNAge test and how does it function?
myDNAge leverages cutting-edge technology to delve into the biological age of an individual, harnessing both blood and urine samples for analysis. This innovative service draws inspiration from the groundbreaking Horvath Clock technique, marking a significant advancement in understanding how our bodies age on a molecular level. At its core, myDNAge employs an advanced method known as SWARM (Simplified Whole-panel Amplification Reaction Method), developed through extensive research in Next-Generation sequencing.
This sophisticated approach allows for the examination of over 2,000 specific sites within DNA, focusing on methylation patterns—a key indicator of epigenetic aging. Methylation is a process that affects gene expression without altering the genetic code itself and is influenced by various factors including lifestyle and environmental exposures. By assessing these patterns thoroughly, myDNAge provides precise estimations of an individual’s epigenetic age with remarkable efficiency.
What sets this service apart is not just its technological prowess but its ability to turn complex scientific data into actionable insights about one’s biological aging process. This can be invaluable for individuals seeking to understand their health better and potentially take steps to improve their well-being based on their biological age rather than their chronological age alone.
What will people learn or get after the test?
The myDNAge service offers a fascinating glimpse into our biological clock, providing insights far beyond what the calendar tells us. By examining over 2,000 genetic sites for DNA methylation patterns—a process influencing gene activity without altering the genetic code itself—this test calculates one’s biological age, or DNAge. This figure reflects not just the years you’ve lived but how your lifestyle and environment have impacted your body on a cellular level.
In addition to pinpointing your biological age, myDNAge places this information in context through its DNAge Index. This comparison pits your data against others in your age group, offering a relative perspective on where you stand health-wise among peers. Furthermore, the results include an analysis of how your biological age stacks up against a broader demographic based on thousands of samples collected in their database.
For those keen on tracking changes and improvements over time, repeat testing is invaluable. It enables customers to compare current findings with past ones, showing clear evidence of any progress made towards better health or perhaps highlighting areas needing attention.
Beyond merely delivering test results, myDNAge strives to educate and empower its users. The service translates cutting-edge research into accessible content that everyone can understand and use. Through consumer-friendly blogs derived from scholarly articles about biological aging and interventions proven to reverse it, individuals are equipped with knowledge to make informed decisions about their health regimes.
All said and done—the essence of these offerings isn’t just about numbers that tell us our ‘age.’ It’s about uncovering truths hidden within our very blueprint and taking actionable steps towards not just living longer but living well.
How can this knowledge help shoppers?
Understand your aging process in-depth with the myDNAge test. It reveals how daily habits impact your biological age, offering a comprehensive snapshot of your health.
Can individuals do something after getting their results to make their biological age younger?
Once individuals get their biological age results, there’s a wealth of guidance available to them. Our website features a blog dedicated to offering practical advice for those looking to enhance their health and reduce their biological age. This blog translates complex scientific studies into digestible, straightforward articles focusing on evidence-based strategies for living healthier and longer lives. It’s a treasure trove of information that empowers readers with the knowledge they need to make informed lifestyle changes.
What trends and technologies will become more common in your area of expertise in the future?
In the near future, we’re excited to introduce additional factors to our biological age reports. This will make them even more tailored, offering specific steps our customers can take. We anticipate these updates will link closely with anti-aging treatments, potentially leading to better epigenetic age marks.
