Overview of CheekAge

In an exciting breakthrough for health and wellness, a Manhattan-based biotechnology company has engineered an innovative 'aging' clock that assesses your biological age using simple cheek swab samples. This cutting-edge technology, known as CheekAge, promises to revolutionize how we understand the aging process.

Understanding Biological Age

Biological age refers to the condition of your cells and tissues, which may not align with your chronological age—the total number of years you have lived. Disturbingly, research indicates that a significant disparity between biological and chronological age can heighten the risk of fatal diseases.

Advancements over Traditional Methods

Whereas traditional methods of gauging biological age typically rely on invasive blood DNA analysis, Tally Health's CheekAge makes this process non-invasive and user-friendly.

Study Findings

According to a recent study published in Frontiers in Aging, Tally Health's team tested CheekAge technology alongside blood samples from a cohort of 1,500 senior citizens from the UK. Max Shokhirev, head of computational biology and data science at Tally Health, shared with The Post, 'Our findings reveal that the CheekAge clock, trained on cheek cells, demonstrates a strong correlation to mortality risk observable in blood samples.' He further emphasized that, despite being developed based on different tissue types, the CheekAge accuracy remained impressive even with incomplete data.

Limitations of CheekAge

However, it’s crucial to note that CheekAge doesn’t predict death or specifics about how one may die. Instead, it highlights the significant association between a person’s biological and chronological ages and related mortality risks.

Study Methodology

Study participants underwent blood testing for DNA methylation every three years, with the final set of data used to calculate their CheekAge. This process revolves around DNA methylation—a natural biological mechanism that alters gene function through chemical modifications without changing the underlying genetic code.

Factors Influencing DNA Methylation

Factors such as diet, hormonal changes, stress levels, substance use, and environmental pollutants can all influence DNA methylation over time. Tally Health claims that CheekAge outperformed four previous aging clocks and stands on par with other blood-trained predictors like DNAm PhenoAge regarding chronic disease and mortality risk.

Consumer Launch of TallyAge Test

With the launch of the TallyAge Test, a user-friendly cheek swab kit now available to consumers, Tally Health is expanding access to this transformative technology.

Links to Lifestyle Choices

Preliminary findings suggest that CheekAge is closely linked with lifestyle choices, including sleep patterns, exercise habits, and alcohol use—alongside health factors like prior COVID-19 infections.

Future Research Directions

Adiv Johnson, Tally Health’s head of scientific affairs and education, expressed enthusiasm for ongoing research aimed at diagnosing what variables profoundly connect to CheekAge. 'We are committed to exploring how various diseases, health issues, and lifestyle choices impact aging,' Johnson mentioned.

Conclusion

This groundbreaking development holds promising potential for personalized health insights, enabling individuals to better understand their biological aging process. Don't let aging catch you by surprise—discover your CheekAge and take control of your health today!