Introducing the new and improved TruAge™ Test
Dr. Dominique Fradin-Read is happy to announce a new improved version of the TruAge™ Test now available at VitaLifeMD: the Complete Collection
Dr. Fradin-Read acts as an advisory board member for TruDiagnostic™ scientific development team, helping to steer the laboratory research toward the most useful tools for your long-term health.
Over the past few months, new algorithms were added to the initial test allowing the researchers to provide us with more precise and accurate data about your biological age. This is an exciting time, as now for the first time we can effectively gauge how you as an individual are aging at a molecular level, and assess the increased disease risks associated with your personal rate of aging.
Benefits of tracking your biological age with the TruAge™ Test?
It is now well known that the biological process of aging is at the core of many diseases and chronic conditions. Tracking biological aging is an incredibly powerful tool for checking an individual's risk of developing those diseases, so we can create preventive plans of intervention.
As we get older our cells start to break down and our organs are not working as efficiently as they used to do. This process is controlled by your body through “epigenetics.” Epigenetics refers to everything that can modify our genes (changes in the DNA) as we age and causes these genes to not function optimally (e.g. our lifestyle, infections. exposure to toxins, chronic conditions, stress, etc.)
The speed of aging varies between people–most of us know individuals that look younger or older and yet they were born the same year! In the graphic below taken from a 50-year study examining the aging process, participants were sorted based on their “epigenetic age” meaning the changes of their DNA. Although everyone had the same chronological age (born the same year), participants had different biological ages and their bodies appeared either older or younger. The pictures speak for themselves with regards to the physical appearance and the face of these individuals. What is important to know is that accelerated aging also impacts the function of the body, brain health, memory, muscle tone, balance, coordination, immune system and so much more!
How is the TruAge™ Test performed?
The TruAge™ Test involves a simple blood draw (we just need a few drops!), which can be done at our VitaLifeMD Los Angeles clinic. For patients who cannot visit our office, we can use an at-home sample collection provided by the laboratory.
After we send in your blood sample, your reports will be ready to review by your provider 4 to 5 weeks later. Based on your results, a personalized action plan will be discussed and implemented to optimize your health and try slowing down the process of aging in the future.
What does the new improved TruAge™ Test include?
The TruAge™ Complete Collection includes a wide variety of aging metrics that help build a broader picture of your aging process. Besides the original epigenetic biological age testing that was offered initially, which some of our patients had done, the new test now includes several new very useful reports. Using these new reports, your provider will be able to create an even more comprehensive interventional anti-aging plan customized to your individual profile.
Some samples of these reports are presented below. Your own reports will be sent to your physician for review.
The Epigenetic Biological Age
Your lifetime summary of aging: how old are you biologically as opposed to your chronological age. It offers a good overall idea of how much your body has already aged to this point. For patients who have already done the TruAge™ Test, the results will be re-actualized to your current age.
The report will include some specific risks such as the diabetic risk, the obesity risk, and more.
The Dunedin Pace of Aging
This new algorithm is able to tell you how you are performing now, meaning how quickly you are currently aging. It is a speedometer of your actual aging as opposed to how far you have already gone.
Dr. Eileen Crimmins at USC evaluated the Dunedin Pace of Aging and found that it was the most predicative age-related biomarker for health consequences. Pace of aging is also the most reactive to short-term changes in your lifestyle, so with proper modifications to your current habits, you will be able to age more slowly and reduce the risk linked to it.
Telomere Length
Telomeres are sequences of bases of DNA added at the end of our chromosomes. They are little caps that act as protectors of the genetic material included along the chromosome themselves. As we get older the telomeres shrink which reduces the protective effect on our genes.
Telomeres have long been a core reference point for tracking biological aging. In this report, you will learn about how telomere length affects cellular replication and cellular fate, and how your telomeres currently fare.
Extrinsic and Extrinsic Age and your Immune System Status
Environmental exposures, exercise, diet, sleep, stress, chronic diseases, and other external factors influence the health and aging rate of your immune system. In turn, the aging process of your immune system affects your overall biological age.
That is why Dr. Fradin-Read is so adamant to help her patients keep their immune system at the best level possible, as each time we are sick our body takes a toll that can impact aging for the long run.
This report will be able to differentiate between intrinsic epigenetic aging–or the impact of aging without the implication of our immune system– and extrinsic epigenetic aging that will take into account the external modifications that could have happened due to immune system irregularities overtime.
What else will the TruAge™ Test bring to my care?
Because epigenetics is so tied to health and disease alongside aging, it can offer risk assessments for developing diseases in the future, show the impact of behaviors like smoking and drinking, and even help explain some of your body's unique features.
One of the reports tells us how responsive you are to a low-calorie diet.
Some of us have a hard time losing weight, even when we cut down on calories. Knowing whether you are responsive or not can help shape the choice of diet and weight loss approach you want to pursue, how you can reach your ideal weight goal and maintain it in a sustainable way.
Another interesting report that was recently released is the Mitotic Clock.
Mitosis is how the cells in humans and other animals divide and replicate to heal and grow. Too much cellular growth can at times be detrimental and might announce the potential risk of diseases requiring further investigation.
This Mitotic Clock looks at how many times your cells have undergone replication and creates a risk estimate for diseases related to cell replication such as cancer.
How will epigenetic testing affect my care?
Using the epigenetic profile built with TruAge™, we will be able to get a closer look at the many hallmarks of aging that your body is experiencing from telomere length to how often your cells are replicating, and epigenetic markers that can predict the risk of developing age-related diseases.
The TruAge™ Complete Collection includes a wide variety of aging metrics. Using these reports, your provider can build an interventional and anti-aging plan that is more comprehensive and customized to your individual profile.
Take advantage of our temporary discounted price
Normally sold for $499, the TruAge™ Complete Collection test will be available at VitaLifeMD our clinic for $450 while supplies last.
This will include all the reports listed above:
- Your Epigenetic Biological Age
- Your Pace of Aging
- Your Immune Age
- Your Telomere Length
- And personal health insights and risk assessment
If you would like to schedule your TrueAge™ Test, please call our clinic at (424) 325-3368 or Book a consultation with our team today.