With life expectancy doubling in the past century, 50 is the new 30. But people these days don’t just want to live longer, they want to stay healthy and prosper in the years to come. Life after 40 often brings an increased focus on health and well-being. Many people are starting to take a more proactive, proactive approach to health at all levels. You might start paying more attention to the latest biohacking trends—how to stay fit, stay cognitively sharp, and feel energized. Of course, everyone should have regular health checkups, exams, and vaccinations, but as you get older, you may seek out trained professionals to do diagnostic tests that look beyond weight and blood pressure. These health or health duration tests can provide detailed information about your current and future well-being. While no longevity or health test can predict your life expectancy, getting these health tests can help identify health problems before symptoms appear so you can act early. If you want to proactively optimize lifetime and Healthspan, below are some health tests and preventive biomarker tests for people between the ages of 40 and 60, recommended by doctors and longevity experts. This will be followed by a general health checklist, similar to those found in annual health checks or ‘wellness check-ups’.
LONG LIFE TESTS
The TruAGE test by TRUDiagnostic it tells you how old you really are biologically, at a cellular level. It is the first epigenetic test that examines genomic instability, cellular senescence (aging of immune cells), DNA methylation, telomere length, etc., revealing how well you age and how likely you are to enjoy longer health. He uses it OMICm Age algorithm developed in collaboration with scientists from Brigham and Women’s Hospital of Harvard Medical School. This test gives a comprehensive and in-depth look at the various biomarkers and biological components of aging. It also analyzes the risk of various age-related diseases and death. Once you receive your test results, an individualized treatment plan consisting of specific nutritional medications and lifestyle changes will be discussed, and follow-up tests will be recommended to assess progress at regular intervals.
According to renowned longevity expert Dr. Peter Attia, the majority of us will die as a result of one of the chronic diseases of aging: heart disease, cancer, neurodegenerative diseases (such as Alzheimer’s), and type 2 diabetes/related metabolic dysfunction. So, he recommends the following 5 blood tests to assess your risk for these “Four Horsemen of chronic disease”, most of which are not usually included in general health checks:
- Lp(a) also known as lipoprotein A. Lp(a) is a combination of fat and protein that carries cholesterol in the blood. It is similar to LDL cholesterol but more “sticky” and high levels in the blood are a risk factor for heart disease. This blood test may be especially important for people with high levels of LDL cholesterol or a family history of cardiovascular disease (blood vessels and vessels).
- LDL-P (or Apo B). Apolipoprotein B (Apo B) is a structural apolipoprotein of LDL particles that facilitates their transport to peripheral tissues. This biomarker is a predictor of cardiovascular disease. Dr. Peter Attia notes that even when typical lipid (cholesterol) panel results are within the norm, LDL-P test results can be high, signaling a higher risk of cardiovascular disease.
- APOE genotype. APOE is a protein involved in lipid metabolism and its gene contains 3 alleles (ε2, ε3, ε4) that carry the risk of predisposition to Alzheimer’s disease. Since the human genotype is permanent, you only need to do the APOE gene analysis once. Those with the E4/E4 genotype are 14 times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s disease. Click here to read more.
- OGTT with insulin measurements. Dr. Peter Attia believes that the oral glucose tolerance test is one of the most critical measurements for assessing metabolic health. The test shows how sugar is absorbed by cells, and abnormal results can signal serious metabolic changes that increase the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
- ALT. Alanine transaminase (ALT) is an enzyme in a person’s liver – the powerhouse of human metabolism. The ALT test assesses the health of the liver because if the organ is damaged, ALT leaks into the blood. Elevated levels of ALT in someone’s blood signal liver cell injury.
GENERAL HEALTH CHECK FOR AGE 40 TO 60
Here are general health checks/biomarkers for anyone over 40. Some must be done annually while others can be done once every 3 to 10 years, depending on your health and family history.
- blood pressure, body composition analysis (body weight, muscle mass, body fat percentage, BMR, metabolic age, etc.)
- Complete blood count, lipid panel, liver function tests, kidney function tests, type 2 diabetes (fasting glucose, HbA1C), hepatitis B and C, thyroid panel
- Vitamin D3
- Hs-CRP (a marker of low-grade, chronic inflammation)
- Cancer screening: colon cancer (colonoscopy), cervical cancer (PAP test), breast cancer (mammogram, ultrasound), prostate cancer (PSA), lung cancer (chest x-ray, CT scan), biomarkers cancer (blood test)
- DEXA scan for bone health
- dental examinations
- grip strength test, one leg stand test;
We all know that exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, not smoking, not being obese and drinking a limited amount of alcohol (click here for the latest research on ‘how much alcohol is too much’?) can to improve both lifespan and health. But how much is enough for you, as an individual? What about stress? How does stress, specifically, play a role in your aging process?
Many factors affect how fast or how well you age—and the more you understand about how your body works, the better you can help it thrive. You are a unique being, and by exploring your unique biological makeup and functions at the cellular level, you can personalize the medical and lifestyle interventions needed to slow, stop, or even reverse the biological aging processes in your body. Doing your research first can help steer your antiaging and wellness journey in the right direction.
Dr. Ardyce Yik offers the aforementioned longevity and health tests at her clinic. If you are interested, contact her today to begin your personalized journey to enhance longevity and health.
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