Primary Causes & Action Plans

IGF-1 (Insulin-Like Growth Factor 1)

Growth hormone surrogate; higher is usually better for longevity
IGF-1 declines with age. Adequate IGF-1 is important for muscle, bone, and cognitive health. Very low IGF-1 predicts poor aging outcomes.
Target > 100 ng/mL (age-dependent)
Suggested Action Plan

Maintain IGF-1 through adequate protein intake (1.0-1.6 g/kg), strength training, and sleep. If very low, see endocrinologist about growth hormone status.

DHEA-S

Hormone of resilience; declines with age and predicts healthspan
DHEA-S is a marker of adrenal and metabolic health. Declining DHEA-S predicts poor aging. Maintaining adequate DHEA-S predicts longevity.
Target 150-350 mcg/dL (women); 250-450 (men)
Suggested Action Plan

Support DHEA-S through stress management, sleep, and exercise. Some benefit from DHEA supplementation (25-50 mg daily), but only under physician supervision.

Testosterone

Both men and women benefit from adequate testosterone for bone, muscle, and cognitive health
Testosterone declines with age in both sexes. Adequate testosterone is protective against age-related muscle loss, bone loss, and cognitive decline.
Target > 600 ng/dL (men); 40-50 ng/dL (women)
Suggested Action Plan

Maintain testosterone through strength training, adequate sleep, and stress management. Bioidentical replacement in deficiency improves aging outcomes.

HbA1c

Blood sugar control; strongest metabolic predictor of aging rate
HbA1c below 5.2% is associated with optimal aging. Maintaining tight blood sugar control is the single most important anti-aging intervention.
Target < 5.2%
Suggested Action Plan

Maintain through carbohydrate control, exercise, and weight management. This single metric has more impact on aging than almost any other intervention.

Vitamin D

Immunoprotective, anti-cancer, and supports musculoskeletal health
Optimal vitamin D is associated with reduced cancer risk, better bone health, and longer healthspan. Deficiency accelerates aging.
Target 60-80 ng/mL
Suggested Action Plan

Maintain through sun exposure and supplementation (2000-4000 IU daily). Optimal vitamin D is one of the most important anti-aging nutrients.

Getting Started

1
Get a Comprehensive Anti-Aging Panel

Test IGF-1, DHEA-S, testosterone, HbA1c, ApoB, hs-CRP, homocysteine, vitamin D, and B vitamins. This comprehensive panel reveals your biological age and aging trajectory.

2
Calculate Your Biological Age

Use the results to calculate biological age using evidence-based biomarker algorithms. This reveals whether your biological age is younger or older than your chronological age.

3
Prioritize Metabolic Optimization

HbA1c and fasting insulin are the strongest aging drivers. Optimize these through low-carb diet, exercise, and weight management. This single intervention impacts all other markers.

4
Adopt Comprehensive Anti-Aging Lifestyle

Mediterranean diet, 150+ minutes weekly exercise (including resistance), 8+ hours sleep, stress management, and social connection are the most powerful anti-aging interventions.

5
Retest Every Year and Track Improvement

Your biological age should improve (decrease) year over year. Retest annually. Improvements in your biomarkers translate directly into extended healthspan and lifespan.

Why I built this guide.

"Anti-aging interventions are most powerful when guided by comprehensive biomarker data. Test, optimize, and age slowly."

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