September 21, 2022
We’re all born on a specific date that we usually celebrate each year to mark another trip around the sun. That said, did you know that your calendar age differs from the actual age of your cells? Through the study of epigenetics, scientists are unlocking more information about how your body ages, which differs from your chronological age.
The science of epigenetics explores how behavior and environment causes changes that affect the way your genes work or “express” for new cell creation and body function. Unlike genetic changes, epigenetic changes are reversible and will not change your DNA sequence, but they can change how your body reads that DNA sequence.
In other words, your genes hold information, and epigenetics is how to unlock the information your genes express.
This is important because what affects how genes are expressed comes down to lifestyle, behaviors and environment, which ultimately influence how fast or slow your body, or “cells,” are aging. Through various studies, it’s shown that individuals leading healthy lifestyles tend to influence their gene expression in a positive way, while those who have a less healthy lifestyle cause negative impact to gene expression.
With this understanding, epigenetics can tell us more about our biological age, measuring cell health, while chronological age is only measuring calendar years.
This has been an incredible breakthrough in the world of health and wellness because it helps us understand not only what influences aging, but how we might be able to reverse it.
The study of epigenetics is still in its very early stages, but scientists are confident that a healthy lifestyle can make positive impacts on gene expression and cell health. Resources that allow someone to see exactly what they need to change are still being perfected and FOXO is at the forefront of the effort within our own FOXO Labs.
Common areas that help to measure one’s gene expression and biological age are:
In addition, new studies are beginning to unlock how CBD affects gene expression1.
Studies of epigenetics continue to uncover a better understanding of breakthroughs in health and wellness, including how to combat age-related diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, auto-immune disorders, cardiovascular disease and more. If we can better understand what causes your body to age, we can find ways to influence and reverse it, which would mean defeating disease.
To ensure your epigenetics are being influenced in a positive way, leading a healthy lifestyle is crucial. Launching soon, FOXO will be offering our Longevity Report, which will give personalized insights into your biological age and genetic predispositions, so you can take the most effective preventive measures and have peace of mind in knowing what you can do to make changes that are unique to you.
