Measuring aging using cheek tissue cells

Manhattan-based Tally Health has developed an aging “clock” tool that uses information from cheek cells to predict biological age. Experts explain that biological age is the age of cells and tissues, different from a person’s actual age in years. Research shows that a large gap between these two ages may indicate an increased risk of death from disease.

Most currently available biochemical tests to predict biological age are based on blood DNA. However, CheekAge said their test kit only requires a cheek swab. In the study published above Frontiers in Aging On September 29, Tally Health scientists tested the technology with blood samples from 1,500 British elderly people.

“Research shows that CheekAge, trained on cheek cells, can predict a person’s mortality rate, comparable to a blood cell sample,” said Max Shokhirev, head of biology and data science at Tally Health, said.

He said the new study is especially significant because the tool was trained on another type of tissue, specifically cheek tissue. The tool fills a gap in previous blood tests, which lacked about half of the data needed to predict a person’s biological age. Shokhirev noted that CheekAge does not predict the timing or cause of death, but rather points to the difference between biological age and chronological age as being related to the risk of death.

Previously, Americans could use biological age testing services at some medical facilities or health service providers. These tests are often based on blood samples, analyzing changes in DNA. These biological tests also rely on DNA methylation – like the test above – to study the aging process.

DNA methylation is the process of adding a methyl group to a DNA molecule. Methylation changes the function of DNA, typically preventing transcription. Among epigenetic marks, abnormal distribution of DNA methylation is associated with cancer. DNA methylation levels change over time. Diet, hormones, stress, medications and exposure to pollutants can affect this process.

However, some experts believe that people should not be too confident in their results. No test can accurately indicate how long a person will live. They can only estimate each person’s aging rate. Suppose, a 50 year old person has a biological age of 45, meaning they age about 5 years slower than normal. DNA methylation patterns can change, related to diet, exercise and other lifestyle habits.