A person’s ageotype has a profound impact on how well he or she ages. If you want to find out what your possible ageotype is, this article may help.
In this article:
- What Is Ageotype?
- The Study
- The Four Kinds of Ageotype
- Ageotype Testing
- Natural Anti-Aging Interventions
Ageotype: Scientists Discover 4 Different Types of Aging
Researchers from Stanford University’s School of Medicine identify at least four ways people age in January 2020 published study in Nature Medicine through an ageotype classification system.
What Is Ageotype?
Think of the ageotype as the biological aging counterpart of personality types, and it appears to determine how people age from or on the inside.
Some people in their 40s look like they’re in their early 30s or even better, in their late 20s. On the other hand, some people in their late 20s look like they’re in their early 40s.
Admittedly, a major factor in how old or young people look is their fashion sense. However, a more important factor is something that wardrobe can’t easily fix, i.e. physiological look.
This concerns biological aging, especially at the cellular level. This is where the concept of ageotype comes in.
The Study
The study from Stanford University’s School of Medicine lasted for two years and involved testing blood and other biological samples for biomarkers of aging. There were 43 healthy adult participants who consented to join.
The longitudinal study aimed to identify which parts of the participants’bodies are most active in terms of aging. After analyzing molecular changes, they determined four ageotypes.
The Four Kinds of Ageotype
The research team discovered four types of aging based on molecular changes, namely:
- Metabolic ageotype
- Immune ageotype
- Hepatic ageotype (liver)
- Nephrotic ageotype (kidney)
One’s ageotype indicates which areas of the body are prone to faster aging process and age-related diseases. For example:
- Those with a metabolic ageotype are at risk of insulin resistance, which can lead to type-2 diabetes.
- Immune agers are at a greater risk of higher inflammatory markers in the immune system.
- Hepatic liver ageotypes are at higher risk of liver diseases.
- Nephrotic ageotypes are at higher risk of kidney function issues.
This new study also revealed other discoveries about one’s ageotype:
- A person can have more than one ageotype, even all four types.
- Ageotypes aren’t cast in stone, i.e., they can change over time.
- Early intervention measures, like lifestyle changes and medicine, can help reduce the risk of age-related conditions.
More importantly, the study’s researchers found that ageotyping provides crucial insights on what kinds of illnesses people are likely to experience as they age. This also helps in early intervention.
Ageotype Testing
While this concept is promising and exciting, there’s a catch. As of this writing, there are no commercially available tests for finding our one’s ageotype or ageotypes.
Fortunately, there are indirect ways that can be done.
Regular blood tests and doctor checkups may give clues as to one’s ageotype and specific health risks. Information gleaned from these can help determine the kind of early intervention necessary to lower specific health risks.
Natural Anti-Aging Interventions
1. Early Intervention: Regular Exercise
Regular exercise for greater longevity doesn’t require grunting for hours at the gym or running a 10km daily. A person – regardless of fitness level, gender, or age – just needs to increase movement every day in any capacity, according to a published study in the European Society of Cardiology.
The study’s proponents looked at the cardiorespiratory fitness levels of about 300,000 adults aged 18-74 years old. The researchers found that as fitness levels improved, risks for cardiovascular diseases and early death declined.
Even better, the study participants neither lifted weights nor ran many kilometers to lower those risks. The researchers found that even minor increases in daily movement, like taking long walks to and from work, helped improve general health.
Regardless of one’s starting point, one can improve general health by simply moving more every day. That’s why for those who want to improve their aging biomarkers and age healthily, they can do simple things like:
- Taking the stairs instead of escalators or elevators
- Biking instead of commuting when going around the city
- Walking a different, longer route every day going to and from work or school
2. Early Intervention: Diet
The Gerontological Society of America presented a study indicating that a Mediterranean-based diet is beneficial for aging. Characteristics of such diet include:
- Plant-based foods, i.e., fruits and vegetables
- Minimal or no processed and refined carbohydrates and sugars
- Foods high in omega-3 fatty acids, i.e., dietary fat that helps combat inflammation and optimize brain and hormonal health
- Low-glycemic index or complex carbohydrates
- Minimal or no unhealthy dietary fats, e.g., trans-fats, omega-6 fats, etc.
Also, one must avoid eating excessive amounts of the following types of food:
- Alcoholic drinks
- Corn syrup (high-fructose)
- Food additives like MSG
- Highly-processed foods like hotdogs, chicken nuggets, etc.
- Hydrogenated fats
- Inflammatory foods like canola oil
- Processed, white flour
- Refine sugars
While it’s best to get all the essential anti-aging nutrients from whole foods, it’s challenging or impossible for most. This is where nutritional supplements come into play.
Two of the most popular supplements today for healthy aging are nicotinamide riboside, or NR, and nicotinamide mononucleotide, or NMN. The human body converts these two compounds into anti-aging molecule NAD+ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide).
NAD+ is crucial for maintaining two crucial aspects of cellular health, i.e., mitochondrial health and cellular production of energy. It’s also crucial for maintaining the length of telomeres, which are associated with biological aging.
Telomeres Definition: Caps that cover the ends of a chromosome
Knowing one’s ageotype can go a long way towards enjoying greater health and longevity. While there aren’t commercially available tests, regular checkups and blood tests can give clues and cues on how one should care for his or her health.
Don’t forget to save this infographic for reference later, or share it with others!
Based on your current health status and history, what do you think is your ageotype? Let us know in the comments section below.
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