The DunedinPACE clock is one of the most accurate epigenetic clocks. Nonetheless, it can be difficult to measure the impact of any single intervention, given the innumerable lifestyle factors that may counteract the positive effects on the clock.
For example, taking a supplement or exercising may have a positive impact on the clock that may be counteracted by other lifestyle variables (e.g., stress, sleep, diet, overindulging as a reward for exercising, other supplements, your microbiome, infections or activation of the immune system). In such a case, the net result is neutral or negative, meanwhile the wrong conclusion may be drawn – that the supplement or exercise did not confer any benefits.
This is even more the case for the biological age clock, which measures many forms of accumulated damage and lifestyle interventions you underwent throughout your life (including factors you were exposed to decades ago).
Using this clock to measure whether one intervention (e.g., exercising more) changes the clock will be difficult in the short-term, given the clock is, in most cases, currently not accurate enough on an individual level (some studies, using dozens or hundreds of participants, can find effects of one or multiple interventions).
Therefore, use the biological age clock to get an overview of all lifestyle interventions and habits accumulated over a lifetime.
Use the rate of aging clock to get a general overview of your health and how fast you are aging right now, being mindful of the innumerable lifestyle and (epi)genetic factors that are playing a role.
We help you keep track of confounding factors by providing you with a short survey for you to complete with each NOVOS Age test. This will enable you to compare your lifestyle changes between tests in a more precise way than relying on your memory, and may help you make sense of your results.
Ideally, you get tested every year, at the same time, to minimize seasonal confounding factors and to have an insight on how you’re faring on your Longevity Journey.