New biological age test uses Asian cohort data to measure how fast you age

Scientists in Singapore have created a new blood test that can tell people how fast their bodies are aging. The test, called AgeQ, was built using data from thousands of Singaporeans who were studied for over ten years. It became available to the public about six weeks ago and is now offered by several private health clinics in Singapore, as well as in Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Indonesia.

Most people think of age as simply how many years they have been alive. But scientists also talk about something called biological age, which measures how well your body is actually working. A person's biological age can be older or younger than their real age, depending on their lifestyle and health habits.

Researchers from the National University of Singapore (NUS) followed more than 5,400 Singaporeans for over a decade as part of a study called the Singapore Longitudinal Ageing Studies, or SLAS. They tracked how people's bodies changed over time and how daily habits affected their health. The findings gave scientists a clearer picture of what makes some people age faster than others.

The results of the study were striking. People who currently smoke have a biological age that is 3.6 years older than non-smokers. Those who are obese — meaning they have a much higher body weight than is healthy — can have a biological age up to 4.2 years older than people with a normal body weight.

On the brighter side, healthy habits were linked to a younger biological age. People who exercised often had a biological age about 1.25 years younger than those who rarely or never exercised. Eating plant-based foods was also linked to a biological age about one year younger compared to those who ate no plant foods at all.

The AgeQ test was developed by a health company called Lucence Group, which worked with NUS and a government research agency called A*STAR. Lucence was started in 2016 as a spin-off from A*STAR, meaning it grew out of that research organization. The test looks at markers found in a person's blood to give a snapshot of how their body is aging.

What makes AgeQ special is that it was the first biological age test built using data from an Asian population, known as an Asian cohort. It was later checked for accuracy using data from more than 300,000 people in the United States and the United Kingdom. As more people use the test, the results are expected to become even more accurate over time.

Singapore's Minister for Trade and Industry, Tan See Leng, praised the test at an event on August 11. He said it is a great example of how government researchers and private companies can work together to turn scientific findings into tools that help real people. He even joked that new health innovations might one day help people live well until the age of 125.

Singapore is facing a challenge that many countries share: its population is getting older. To help address this, the government recently committed $350 million to a major plan focused on helping people age in a healthy way. This plan is part of a larger national research and innovation effort known as RIE 2030.

Lucence plans to keep improving the AgeQ test. In the future, scientists hope to use it to identify risks for serious illnesses like heart disease and cancer before they develop. The company also sees a path for this Singapore-made technology to be used in other countries around the world.