Have you ever felt like your body’s older than you are? Well, it turns out there’s real science behind feeling physically older than you really are (or, if you’re lucky, the other way round).
That’s because we each actually have two ages: our chronological age is dictated by our birthdays, whereas biological age refers to the state of our bodies, right down to our cellular health.
Your biological age is not only the best predictor of your lifespan but also your ‘healthspan’ – the amount of your life that you can expect to enjoy in good health.
And, surprisingly, genetics only play a minor role in setting your biological age – one study estimates only 15–20 per cent of variation in longevity is due to genetics.
What this means is our lifespan is mostly dictated by lifestyle and environment. As research by Harvard Medical School showed in 2023, the great news is: it’s never too late to improve your biological age.
