Researchers have discovered that a dietary modification can influence biological age, measured using the Klemera-Doubal method. This method uses simple health data such as blood pressure, muscle strength and blood composition to estimate a person's age based on their physical condition. If the measured biological age is higher than the actual age, this is referred to as accelerated ageing.
In a recent study, it was shown that a short period of change in dietary pattern can shift the outcome of this biological clock by several years. This means that physical health can improve in a measurable way through nutrition. Although the effect may be temporary, it does indicate that lifestyle has an influence on the ageing process.
The difference from other techniques for measuring biological age, such as epigenetic clocks, is that the Klemera-Doubal method is based on simple, clearly interpretable measurements. This makes it easier to understand why someone appears ‘older’ or ‘younger’ than their chronological age and provides tools for targeted health advice.
Yet it remains unclear how sustainable these improvements are and whether the method always provides a complete picture of ageing. Further research is needed to determine how diet and other factors contribute to healthy ageing in the long term.
These results highlight the importance of a healthy diet in slowing down the ageing process and maintaining vitality in later life.
Source: Reason
