For most of us, thinking about aging and death brings about stress, anxiety, and fear of the unknown. While there’s no way to know exactly how long we’ll each live, using technology and available testing can help us learn new ways to interject the aging process and possibly biohack our lifespan.
Longevity tests show you how to biohack a long life. You might wonder “why would I want to test and know about any possible health concerns?” The answer to this commonly asked question is that with knowledge, comes power. Using available tools and tests to measure health can help identify concerns, while biohacks can help address any limitations.
Testing Micronutrient Status
Micronutrients are essential to the body, making up the vitamins and minerals are bodies need to perform vital functions. Some longevity research suggests micronutrient deficiencies may cause a person to age more rapidly. Although micronutrient deficiencies are quite common, many people may not even know they have a deficiency unless symptoms are present.
For example, low Magnesium is a common nutrient deficiency that is linked to several health conditions, such as heart disease and osteoporosis. Other common micronutrient deficiencies include Vitamin B12 deficiencies and Vitamin D.
Despite the apparent importance of adequate micronutrients, many healthcare professionals do not check these levels. Micronutrients such as chloride and sodium are checked through routine blood work, but this testing leaves many micronutrients left unchecked.
Luckily, it’s easy to take control of staying on top of your micronutrient status. Talk to your doctor about running tests for other minerals such as Magnesium and Vitamin B12 to help prevent deficiencies. Not only can micronutrient status testing help you identify any potential deficiencies, but it can help guide you if you’re concerned about supplementation too. Consuming too many supplements can cause excessive levels of micronutrients in the body, causing more harm than good.
Cancer Screening for Longevity
As the second-leading cause of death, there’s no debate on the importance of cancer prevention when it comes to longevity biohacking. Using the latest tests and available science to help screen for cancer, biohackers can help identify cancer in its early stages in a way that was not possible in the past.
Cancer screening is a biohacking tool many forget, despite its importance. Screenings for colon cancer, breast cancer, prostate cancer, etc. are often neglected. However, biohackers should prioritize these screening tests for all types of cancers, given that early detection is key to fighting many of these cancers.
Cancer screening is an essential part of a biohacking strategy to extend both health span and lifespan. Most recently, scientists have begun exploring the use of whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) as a way to detect cancer throughout the body without using radiation. For those with an increased likelihood of developing cancer (genetic aspects), this type of screening test offers another option to help ensure the early detection of cancer.
Epigenetic Testing
In past decades, scientists believe each of our DNA expressions directly told the type of health and lifespan we would have. However, new science challenges this notion, supporting the idea that biohacking techniques such as healthy lifestyle decisions can intervene with these DNA expressions.
Using epigenetic testing, we can now gain more insight into the “age” of our body’s cells and tissues, helping us identify where we can intervene to help support an increased lifespan. When we compare a person’s biological age to their chronological age, we can determine the rate of aging and identify measures to help mitigate these aging factors.
As research and testing advances in epigenetics, we can expect testing to be able to provide an even further deep dive into longevity with time. Clinical trials are ongoing, as researchers determine new ways to use lifestyle modifications, diet changes, exercise hacks, and more to help slow down the rate of aging.
