8 Biomarkers for Longevity Blood Testing

Introduction

Blood tests provide valuable insights into your overall health. But do you know which biomarkers are essential for your quality of life and long term health? Take a look at this blog to find out which biomarkers help you monitor the risk factors, and explore better chances of enjoying good health and living longer. Get in touch with our clinic to get longevity blood tests in London.

What factors affect longevity?

A blend of various physiological and environmental factors collectively determines how long you live. While some of these risk factors often come under influence, but not all. Chronic diseases are the primary cause of disability and death across the globe. They are responsible for about 79% of disability and nearly 71% of deaths worldwide.

According to research studies, 4 main aspects hinder us from living longer, which are the 4 pillars of chronic diseases:

• Heart disease
• Cancer
• Type 2 diabetes (also related to metabolic dysfunction)
• Neurogenerative disease

It is essential to figure out and treat the risks of chronic disease. And it is not only vital for older adults. You can enhance your health span and longevity at any age by making positive changes to your life. The ultimate purpose is to reduce your chances of developing long term illnesses or delay the onset of those illnesses.

Does a longevity test actually exist?

No health span or longevity test alone can reduce your risk of mortality or predict your life expectancy. However, blood tests and screenings can be powerful tools in identifying health problems before your symptoms show up, enabling early intervention.

Now it is completely over to you if you want to make changes to your life by addressing risk factors or making healthy lifestyle choices as much as possible.

Linking Blood Testing to Longevity

Consider a blood test to check longevity, for instance MOT. The function of this test is to check whether your biomarkers are within the normal range and also search for indicators of imbalances or infections. The doctor will review your results to examine the risks of your diseases and your current health condition.

A holistic review of your biomarkers allows you to get a better understanding of your overall health. Besides, a general health check examines the following blood markers to determine longevity:

• HbA1c, to measure your blood sugar
• ApoB:ApoA1 ratio and lipid markers, to measure the risks of your heart disease
• Lipoprotein(a) or Lp(a), associated with the risks of your heart disease
• Hs-CRP, an indicator of low quality, chronic inflammation

However, you need not worry as healthy lifestyle choices can help improve most of these markers.

Biomarker Panels to Test for Longevity

Here are some common biomarker panels which are usually considered while testing longevity:

1.       Full Body Count (FBC)

The purpose of a complete blood count is to check your overall health status, clotting ability, and immune system. It can help detect anaemia from some chronic disease or even some types of blood cancers. Besides, a FBC also looks into your white blood cells for signs of recent infections or injuries.

2.     Lipid Panel

A lipid panel evaluates the amount of certain fat molecules – lipids – present in your bloodstream.

Most lipid panels include checking for:

• HDL cholesterol
• LDL cholesterol
• Non-HDL cholesterol
• Triglycerides

Doctors review these results to assess your risks of cardiovascular diseases. They check for the ratio of your total cholesterol to your HDL cholesterol (total cholesterol: HDL cholesterol). Recent research studies suggest that the ratio of your triglyceride to HDL cholesterol (triglyceride: HDL cholesterol) can be helpful in determining your risks of conditions like metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular disease.

Here take a look at the normal lipid panel range:

HDL cholesterol> 1.2

Remember that your target lipid panel scores are likely to vary if you have higher risks of heart disease. For instance, if you have a family history of heart problems, a high blood pressure, or diabetes.

3.     Apolipoproteins – ApoA1 and ApoB

Apolipoproteins are transported through our bloodstream by binding to lipids. Two vital apolipoproteins determining our overall health are – apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) and apolipoprotein B (ApoB).

ApoA1 is generally present in HDL cholesterol. HDL are good cholesterol which removes excess cholesterol from blood vessels and tissues by transporting them to the liver. Those cholesterol are then recycled by the liver and eliminated from the body.

ApoB, on the other hand, is present in LDL cholesterol. LDL is responsible for transporting cholesterol to the tissues in your body, but excessive cholesterol deposits may result in fatty plaque build-ups in the arteries.

This is why it is good to have a higher ApoA1 and lower ApoB in your blood test result. It can help reduce your risks of cardiovascular diseases.

4.     Inflammation Markers

Inflammation is that natural reaction within the body which occurs from some infection, injury, or other substances that the body may deem harmful. It can be both acute or short term as well as chronic long term. While acute inflammation occurs from injury or infection, chronic inflammation may be caused by conditions like inflammatory bowel disease, asthma, or arthritis.

Now the question is how is inflammation related to longevity? Low level of chronic inflammation may lead to increased risks of cardiovascular problems. Certain inflammation markers including lipid panel or hs-CRP (high sensitivity C-reactive protein) can help rule out your risks or cardiovascular issues.

5.     Thyroid Hormones

Thyroid imbalances are often responsible for making changes in your skin, hair, weight, and even energy. Identifying a thyroid problem can be helpful in managing the condition and alleviate the underlying symptoms. Several aspects of your health are impacted by your thyroid function, such as:

• Nervous system
• Reproductive system
• Digestive system
• Cardiovascular system
• Mood
• Bone health

A thyroid panel typically includes checking for:

• Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH)
• Free thyronine (T3)
• Free thyroxine (T4)

Treating thyroid conditions is crucial to minimise the risks of conditions like osteoporosis or heart disease.

6.     Blood Sugar Levels

HbA1c basically measures your average blood sugar level over the last 3 months. With high blood sugar, glucose and haemoglobin bind together to form HbA1c or glycated haemoglobin.

A higher level of combined glucose (HbA1c) enhances your risks of complications like diabetes or other untreated conditions, like:

• Cardiovascular disease like stroke and heart attack
• Kidney disease and kidney failure
• Neuropathy where your get an altered sensation in your hands or feet or feel numbness
• Retinopathy, a condition of blindness or visual loss

Although insulin resistance is closely associated with diabetes, they are not the same. Insulin resistance might eventually lead to diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes. While HbA1c cannot directly measure insulin resistance, it can assess your fasting glucose and insulin levels with a HOMA-IR score.

7.     Kidney Function and Liver Health

Kidney and liver are vital organs that maintain the proper functioning of your body and keep it healthy. Kidneys work by eliminating excess fluid and other waste products from your blood. Similarly, the liver helps to get rid of toxins and other waste. It also performs other jobs including breaking down food and regulating hormones.

Liver disease is one of the most responsible factors for the increase in death rates. While the death rates due to liver disease have multiplied about 4 times since the 70s, deaths due to lung and heart conditions have significantly reduced.

Besides, the stages 3 to 5 of chronic kidney disease (CKD) are on a rise. They are expected to elevate up to about 8.3% between 2011 and 2036. The liver exhibits amazing regenerative powers in the early stages of the disease. Unfortunately, you do not get to experience many symptoms during the early stages.

Monitoring the kidney function is essential in case you have:

• Diabetes
• Some family member with kidney disease
• A high blood pressure

8.     Vitamin and Mineral Levels

Your age and your overall health get affected by whatever you eat. The right nutrition is important to reduce your risks of various lifestyle diseases and allow you to maintain a healthy weight. A Mediterranean diet is integral to minimising your risks of heart disease as well. In such diet, your food intake is primarily focused on wholefoods, such as:

• Healthy fats, particularly extra virgin olive oil
• Green vegetables and fresh fruits
• Seeds and nuts
• Whole grains including brown rice and wholewheat bread
• Pulses like chickpeas, lentils, and beans

A balanced diet typically contains all the essential vitamins and minerals your body needs. Your healthcare provider will recommend you with the necessary food items you should intake for getting the essential nutrients. Vitamin D is, however, an exception which you obtain from supplements or sunshine, based on the season.

Key Takeaways

A balanced diet, regular physical exercise, and social interactions can help you lead a healthy life. There are several other factors which you should consider for your health and wellbeing, such as an enjoyable hobby or a fulfilling career. Your lifestyle choices can also interfere with your quality of life and health, for now and in the future as well.

Health span is another crucial term associated with longevity. It means about all the years you are supposed to live in good health, which is quite different from your lifespan. Blood testing is a powerful tool to evaluate your current health status. Figuring out abnormal biomarkers helps to pinpoint health aspects which are needed to work on. For longevity blood tests, visit our Private Blood Tests London and book your appointment with our healthcare professionals.