Your passport states one age; your biology may be running another. Longevity checkups exist to close that gap — here is what each key biomarker family tells you, and what a sensible re-testing cadence looks like.
Chronological age vs biological age
Chronological age is how many candles are on the cake. Biological age is how your cells, vessels, immune system and metabolism are actually performing. Two people aged 55 can differ by a decade or more in biological terms — and, unlike the number on the passport, that gap is modifiable. Large cohort studies link faster biological aging with higher disease risk, which is precisely what makes measuring it clinically useful.
The core panel: what longevity labs cover
Most longevity checkups begin with an expanded version of standard clinical labs, interpreted through an aging lens:
- hs-CRP and interleukin-6 — low-grade inflammation, the quiet driver of many age-related diseases
- HbA1c, fasting insulin and lipid subfractions — metabolic aging: how quickly your glucose and lipid systems are wearing
- DHEA-S, IGF-1 and thyroid panels — hormonal axes that shift measurably with age
- ALT/AST, creatinine and eGFR — organ-reserve indicators for liver and kidneys
This layer answers “where am I today” — useful, but not yet what separates a longevity checkup from a good executive physical.
The advanced clocks: glycan age, epigenetic age, ceramides
Three families of advanced biomarkers define the longevity tier:
| Clock | What it measures | What moves it |
|---|---|---|
| Glycan age (IgG glycosylation) | How inflammation reshapes your antibody structure over time | Lifestyle-driven inflammation: diet, weight, activity |
| Epigenetic clock (DNA methylation) | Patterns of gene-expression change accumulated across life | Sleep, smoking cessation, comprehensive lifestyle programs |
| Ceramide score | Lipid signals tied to cardiovascular aging and risk | Lipid management, exercise, medical therapy where indicated |
In China, access to this tier is expanding quickly: glycan-based inflammation screening is available at the Anji location of Clinique La Prairie, alongside ceramide-based cardiovascular scores and genetic aging DNA analysis — a diagnostic combination that previously required traveling to Europe.
Functional measures: the numbers you can watch improve
Labs describe chemistry; function describes capacity. VO₂max — your body’s ability to consume oxygen — is among the strongest single predictors of longevity, and it responds to structured training at almost any age. Grip strength predicts functional independence later in life. DEXA scans separate muscle from fat, revealing sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss) years before it becomes visible in the mirror.
These are also the most motivating metrics to track: biological age may shift by a tenth of a year per quarter, but VO₂max can rise measurably within eight weeks of structured training.
How often should you re-test?
A sensible cadence: the comprehensive panel every 12 months, with a lighter interim panel (inflammation plus metabolic markers) at six months for anyone actively following an intervention program. Biological-age tests are best tracked annually — the signal moves slowly, and chasing monthly changes mostly reads noise.
From numbers to a plan
Biomarkers are only useful if they change what you do. The real output of a longevity checkup is not a PDF — it is a physician-built plan: which systems need attention, which interventions carry the best evidence for your profile, and what to re-test next. That is also where coordination pays off: aligning testing, physician review and travel into one efficient trip (start with our guide to longevity medicine).