Longevity testing is for people who are still healthy. It estimates how fast the body is aging and which inherited risks a person carries for the major diseases of aging, so that screening and prevention can start earlier.
Markers of biological aging
Aging is driven by a set of well-described biological processes, often called the hallmarks of aging. Several of them can be measured from a blood sample.
Hallmark
What happens
How it can be measured
Genomic instability
DNA damage and mutations build up in cells over time.
Measured byAcquired mutations in blood cells (clonal hematopoiesis), found by sequencing
Telomere shortening
The protective ends of chromosomes shorten with each cell division.
Measured byTelomere length in white blood cells
Epigenetic changes
Chemical tags on DNA (methylation) drift with age.
Measured byDNA methylation “epigenetic clocks” that estimate biological age
Mitochondrial dysfunction
The cell’s energy producers lose efficiency and their DNA is damaged.
Measured byMitochondrial DNA copy number and deletions
Cellular senescence
Damaged cells stop dividing but stay active, releasing inflammatory signals.
Measured byp16INK4a (CDKN2A) expression in blood T cells
Nutrient-sensing imbalance
Insulin/IGF-1 and mTOR signaling become dysregulated.
Measured byFasting glucose, insulin, HbA1c and IGF-1
Chronic inflammation
Low-grade inflammation rises with age (“inflammaging”).
Measured byHigh-sensitivity CRP and IL-6
Other hallmarks, such as loss of protein quality control and stem cell exhaustion, are studied mainly in research settings.
Inherited risk for diseases of aging
Each area has well-established inherited risk factors. The examples below are for reference.
Cancer
BRCA1 and BRCA2 (breast and ovarian cancer); Lynch syndrome genes (colorectal and endometrial cancer)Cardiovascular disease
LDLR, APOB and PCSK9 (familial hypercholesterolemia)Brain and nervous system
APOE ε4 (late-onset Alzheimer’s disease)Liver disease
HFE (hereditary hemochromatosis); PNPLA3 (fatty liver disease)Kidney disease
PKD1 and PKD2 (polycystic kidney disease); APOL1 (chronic kidney disease)How this differs from cancer genomics
Longevity testing
Cancer genomics
Who
Healthy adults
People already diagnosed with cancer
Sample
Blood
Tumor tissue
Looks for
Inherited risk and markers of biological aging
Mutations in the tumor, such as KRAS and BRAF
Purpose
Prevention and earlier screening
Choosing the right treatment
Read more about our Cancer Genomics Research.
Our research
Our lab studies how biological functions are regulated during aging, with a focus on reversible aging mechanisms and senolytics, compounds that selectively clear senescent cells.
The program is led by our founder, Jung Joo Moon, M.D., a board-certified pathologist whose research covers molecular assays for cancer and infectious disease.
Research use only. Not for diagnostic use. Not cleared or approved by the U.S. FDA.
