A biotechnology company in Manhattan has developed a groundbreaking test called CheekAge, which uses cheek cells to predict biological age and associated mortality risk. This innovative approach could revolutionize how we assess aging.
Biological age, which reflects the condition of our cells and tissues, can differ significantly from chronological age. Research indicates that a large discrepancy between the two can heighten the risk of death from disease. Unlike traditional methods that rely on blood samples, CheekAge requires only a non-invasive cheek swab.
In a recent study published in Frontiers in Aging, researchers tested CheekAge on a dataset of 1,500 senior citizens from the UK. Max Shokhirev, head of computational biology at Tally Health, noted that the CheekAge clock is significantly associated with mortality, even when tested against blood data, despite being trained on cheek cells.
The study tracked participants over time, measuring DNA methylation—a biological process influenced by various factors including diet and stress. CheekAge has shown to outperform older biological age clocks and is comparable to blood-based predictors of chronic disease risk.
Dr. Adiv Johnson from Tally Health emphasized ongoing research to identify the health variables linked to CheekAge, aiming to understand its implications for diseases and lifestyle factors. This advancement presents a promising tool for non-invasive health assessments and tracking biological aging.