{"id":14038,"date":"2026-09-04T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/?p=14038"},"modified":"2026-09-02T12:15:11","modified_gmt":"2026-09-02T10:15:11","slug":"biological-age","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/biologische-leeftijd\/","title":{"rendered":"Biological Age: How Old Is Your Body Really?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Two people may be exactly the same age on paper, whilst their bodies tell a completely different story.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One person may feel fit, strong and full of energy. Another might notice changes in their fitness, muscle strength or recovery first. So, being the same chronological age does not automatically mean that our bodies develop in the same way.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That difference has fascinated scientists for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Is it possible to measure how quickly someone is ageing biologically?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That question led to the development of various biomarkers and so-called&nbsp;<em>ageing clocks<\/em>: models that combine physical characteristics to make changes associated with ageing measurable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is where the concept comes from&nbsp;<strong>biological age<\/strong>&nbsp;on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The idea captures the imagination: you may be fifty according to the calendar, but biologically speaking, your body may be younger \u2014 or older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, that one number is not as straightforward as it seems.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-wat-is-je-biologische-leeftijd\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is your biological age?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You&nbsp;<strong>chronological age<\/strong>, also known as chronological age, indicates how much time has elapsed since your birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Everyone ages chronologically at the same rate: one year per year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/biological-ageing\/\">Biological ageing<\/a> is different.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">People of the same calendar age may differ in terms of physiological function, health and molecular characteristics. Biological age seeks to reveal some of that variation.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To this end, researchers look not only at&nbsp;<em>how many years<\/em>&nbsp;not whether someone has lived, but on measurable physical characteristics relating to age and health.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consider, for example, changes in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>blood test results;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>metabolism;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>proteins;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>DNA methylation;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>organ function;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>physical ability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on which data are used and how the model is constructed, an estimate or score is then produced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And that is precisely where an important nuance lies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>There is no single biological age.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Different methods measure different aspects of ageing.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-kalenderleeftijd-versus-biologische-leeftijd\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Chronological age versus biological age<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Suppose two people are both 50 years old.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Their calendar age is the same.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But whilst one person exercises a lot, sleeps regularly and has certain beneficial physiological characteristics, the other scores differently on a number of measurable health or molecular characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A biological age model may therefore produce different results for those two people.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That doesn\u2019t literally mean, for example, that one person is 43 and the other 57&nbsp;<em>is<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The number is a&nbsp;<strong>model output<\/strong>&nbsp;based on the biomarkers and calculation method used for that specific test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A different ageing clock may produce a different result for the same person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s important to bear this in mind when commercial tests present biological age as if it were just as much a fixed fact as your date of birth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Your calendar age is a fact. Your biological age is an estimate based on a particular model.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kalenderleeftijd-vs-biologische-leeftijd-1024x687.jpg\" alt=\"The difference between chronological age and biological age\" class=\"wp-image-14041\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kalenderleeftijd-vs-biologische-leeftijd-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kalenderleeftijd-vs-biologische-leeftijd-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kalenderleeftijd-vs-biologische-leeftijd-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kalenderleeftijd-vs-biologische-leeftijd-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kalenderleeftijd-vs-biologische-leeftijd-600x403.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/kalenderleeftijd-vs-biologische-leeftijd.jpg 1264w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-hoe-wordt-biologische-leeftijd-gemeten\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How is biological age measured?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There is now a whole range of methods for studying biological ageing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some models use relatively well-known clinical data, such as blood test results and physiological measurements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Others look much more closely at molecular information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, researchers are building ageing clocks based on:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Epigenetics<\/strong><br>Changes in DNA methylation: chemical marks on DNA that are associated with, amongst other things, age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Proteomics<\/strong><br>Patterns found in hundreds or thousands of proteins, for example in blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Metabolomics<\/strong><br>Small molecules produced during metabolic processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Transcriptomics<\/strong><br>Patterns of gene expression: which genetic information is actively being read at any given moment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Clinical biomarkers<\/strong><br>Combinations of, for example, blood test results and other physiological characteristics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Scientists are also increasingly investigating&nbsp;<strong>multi-omics<\/strong>: combining multiple layers of biological information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That might sound as though we\u2019re getting ever closer to a single, perfect biological age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In reality, it mainly shows just how complex ageing is.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A systematic review from 2025, which assessed 56 studies on methods for determining biological age, concluded that there is as yet no consensus on a single gold standard.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-wat-zijn-epigenetische-klokken\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">What are epigenetic clocks?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One of the best-known developments in this field of research is the&nbsp;<strong>epigenetic clock<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This involves examining DNA methylation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Small chemical groups \u2014 methyl groups \u2014 may be present at various locations within our DNA. Patterns of these groups change over the course of a person\u2019s life in a way that may be statistically strongly correlated with age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Researchers can measure large numbers of these sites and use statistical models or machine learning to estimate their age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The first generation of epigenetic clocks was designed primarily to predict chronological age with a high degree of accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Later models attempt to incorporate other outcomes, such as physiological changes, health risks or mortality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And there are now several generations and types of clocks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is scientifically interesting, but it makes the term&nbsp;<strong>\u2018epigenetic age\u2019<\/strong>&nbsp;actually misleading.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There isn\u2019t just one clock.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are many different clocks, built at different times and for different purposes. A recent&nbsp;<em>Nature Reviews Genetics<\/em>-The review also emphasises that interpretation, differences in cell types and statistical characteristics remain significant challenges.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/epigenetische-klokken-biologische-leeftijd-1024x687.jpg\" alt=\"Laboratory analysis of biomarkers for research into biological age\" class=\"wp-image-14043\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/epigenetische-klokken-biologische-leeftijd-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/epigenetische-klokken-biologische-leeftijd-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/epigenetische-klokken-biologische-leeftijd-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/epigenetische-klokken-biologische-leeftijd-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/epigenetische-klokken-biologische-leeftijd-600x403.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/epigenetische-klokken-biologische-leeftijd.jpg 1264w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-kun-je-je-biologische-leeftijd-zelf-berekenen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you work out your biological age yourself?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Search online for&nbsp;<em>biological age<\/em>&nbsp;and you\u2019ll soon come across calculators and questionnaires.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You enter your age, weight, exercise, sleep and other lifestyle factors, and a few minutes later the following appears:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Your biological age: 41 years.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That could be a useful tool for raising awareness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it is not the same as measuring biological ageing using validated biomarkers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even within scientific research, methods can vary considerably in terms of which biomarkers they use and how these are subsequently combined mathematically.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A simple online calculator cannot, therefore, possibly provide the same information as a model that analyses, for example, hundreds of DNA methylation sites or thousands of proteins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is why we should, above all, view such a result for what it is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>an estimate based on the model used \u2014 not your body\u2019s actual age.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-een-lichaam-kan-verschillende-leeftijden-hebben\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">One body can be of different ages<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is where it gets even more interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We often talk about&nbsp;<em>the body<\/em>&nbsp;as if all the organs and tissues were ageing at the same rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Research suggests that this is not necessarily the case.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Biological clocks are now being developed for individual organs and tissues. In doing so, researchers are attempting, for example, to study the characteristics of ageing in the heart, the immune system, the brain or other organs separately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A recent review in&nbsp;<em>Nature Medicine<\/em>&nbsp;describes how biological clocks are increasingly being used to highlight precisely those differences between organs, tissues and cells.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That raises the question:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>How old is my body?<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps a little too simple, after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A more interesting question is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Which aspects of my physiology are changing, at what rate, and what does that tell us about my health?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-kun-je-je-biologische-leeftijd-verlagen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can you reduce your biological age?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This is probably the most appealing claim regarding biological age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Take a test. Change your lifestyle. Take the test again. And watch your biological age go down.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/healthy-ageing-healthspan\/\">Anyone who wants to grow old in good health,<\/a> It does not, therefore, need to focus solely on such a score. The day-to-day basics \u2014 from exercise and nutrition to sleep and recovery \u2014 remain just as important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In research, ageing clocks are indeed used to investigate whether changes in lifestyle or experimental interventions are associated with changes in biomarkers of ageing. That is one of the potential applications of this technology.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But we must be careful how we interpret this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If an ageing clock shows a lower score following an intervention, this does not automatically mean that a person has literally become a few years younger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">First and foremost, it means that&nbsp;<strong>the biomarkers on which that specific clock is based have changed in such a way that the model classifies it as younger.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Whether such a change also means that the underlying ageing process has actually been slowed down \u2014 and whether that ultimately translates into a longer, healthier life \u2014 is a much bigger scientific question.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That distinction often disappears online.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A lower score does not automatically mean that rejuvenation has been proven.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-heeft-leefstijl-dan-wel-invloed\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">So does lifestyle actually have an influence?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Certainly \u2014 but we don\u2019t need to wait for an ageing clock to give us a figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Exercise, diet, <a href=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/sleep-better\/\">sleep<\/a>, smoking and other lifestyle and environmental factors are linked to health and various outcomes as people age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That doesn\u2019t mean, however, that we can say exactly:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>Exercising three times a week makes your biological age two years younger.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s not how science works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">What is far more interesting is that biological clocks may provide researchers with an additional way of monitoring the changes that are taking place&nbsp;<strong>long before we can tell from someone\u2019s chronological age how healthily they are ageing.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This may ultimately enable them to bridge the gap between what we do on a daily basis and the changes that occur at the molecular and physiological levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That\u2019s true too&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/healthy-ageing-healthspan\/\"><strong>healthspan<\/strong>&nbsp;<\/a>and biological age converge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The aim does not have to be to get the lowest possible mark in a test.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The more important question is whether we can remain healthy, strong and able to function for longer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-hoe-betrouwbaar-is-je-biologische-leeftijd\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">How reliable is your biological age?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That depends on exactly what you mean by \u2018reliable\u2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Some epigenetic clocks can predict chronological age with remarkable accuracy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">However, a clock that is highly accurate at predicting a person\u2019s chronological age is not necessarily the best measure of health or of the underlying biological ageing process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In addition, factors such as the population used, the type of sample, laboratory methods, cell ratios and the chosen model may influence the outcome. As a result, different clocks may produce different results.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That means that, at present, biological age is primarily a&nbsp;<strong>a promising research tool<\/strong>, whilst the process of translating this into routine personal or clinical use is still very much a work in progress. A review from 2026 explicitly highlights unresolved questions regarding the reliability and significance of epigenetic clocks in commercial wellness settings.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So what if a test says you\u2019re 38 biologically, even though your calendar age is 44?<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But it\u2019s not the same as a medical assessment stating that your body is actually six years younger.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-waarom-dit-onderzoek-toch-zo-interessant-is\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why this research is so interesting after all<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All these nuances do not make biological age any less interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Quite the opposite, in fact.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Chronological age is a very rough measure. It tells us how much time has passed, but hardly&nbsp;<strong>what happened in the body during that time<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Biological clocks attempt to make part of that invisible process measurable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">New generations of researchers are looking not only at DNA methylation, but also, for example, at proteins, metabolites, imaging and combinations of different data sources. Proteomic clocks, for instance, are developing rapidly, although important questions remain regarding their generalisability and clinical application.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps that means we won\u2019t end up with a single universal figure for biological age in the future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perhaps we\u2019ll actually get a&nbsp;<strong>a much richer picture of how different systems age within a single person.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That might actually turn out to be much more interesting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"687\" src=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-meer-dan-een-getal-1024x687.jpg\" alt=\"Eating together and building connections as part of healthy ageing\" class=\"wp-image-14045\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-meer-dan-een-getal-1024x687.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-meer-dan-een-getal-300x201.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-meer-dan-een-getal-768x515.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-meer-dan-een-getal-18x12.jpg 18w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-meer-dan-een-getal-600x403.jpg 600w, https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-meer-dan-een-getal.jpg 1264w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 id=\"h-je-bent-meer-dan-een-getal\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">You\u2019re more than just a number<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The idea of biological age captures the imagination.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It suddenly makes something abstract \u2014 growing older \u2014 measurable.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But health cannot be fully summarised by a single figure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your body is made up of various organs, tissues and systems that are constantly changing and interacting with one another. Genetic predisposition, the environment and lifestyle all play a part in this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That is why we prefer not to view biological age as a score you should try to beat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Think of it as a new window through which scientists can view ageing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">One way of gaining a better and better understanding of why two people born on the same date can still age differently.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And ultimately, that brings us back to the very same question that lies at the heart of <a href=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/longevity\/\">longevity<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>It\u2019s not just how many years we live, but how we want to live those years.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You cannot change your calendar age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">How you look after yourself today is, to some extent, in your own hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Live better. Live longer.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"h-bronnen\" class=\"wp-block-heading\">Sources<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ol class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Zurbuchen R, et al.&nbsp;<em>Methods for assessing biological age \u2013 A systematic review.<\/em>&nbsp;Maturitas. 2025; PMID 39938306.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Teschendorff AE, Horvath S.&nbsp;<em>Epigenetic ageing clocks: statistical methods and emerging computational challenges.<\/em>&nbsp;Nature Reviews Genetics. 2025;26:350\u2013368.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Wyss-Coray T, Topol EJ.&nbsp;<em>Biological ageing clocks in health and disease.<\/em>&nbsp;Nature Medicine. 2026;32:2383\u20132394.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rutledge J, Oh H, Wyss-Coray T.&nbsp;<em>Measuring biological age using omics data.<\/em>&nbsp;Nature Reviews Genetics. 2022;23:715\u2013727.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Epigenetic clocks: advancing measures of biological age towards meaningful clinical application.<\/em>&nbsp;eBioMedicine. 2026;124:106175.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><em>Proteomic ageing clocks in epidemiological studies: advances, applications and prospects.<\/em>&nbsp;Nature Aging. 2026. PMID 42162380.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Disclaimer<\/strong><br><em>This article is intended solely for educational and informational purposes and does not constitute medical advice. Health and individual needs vary from person to person. If you have any personal health concerns, or before making any significant changes to your lifestyle, please consult a qualified healthcare professional.<\/em><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Twee mensen kunnen op papier precies even oud zijn, terwijl hun lichaam een heel ander verhaal vertelt. De \u00e9\u00e9n voelt zich fit, sterk en energiek. De ander merkt misschien eerder veranderingen in conditie, spierkracht of herstel. Dezelfde kalenderleeftijd betekent dus niet automatisch dat ons lichaam zich op dezelfde manier ontwikkelt. Dat verschil fascineert wetenschappers al [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":14040,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[231],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-14038","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-healthspan"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v28.8 (Yoast SEO v28.8) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Biologische leeftijd: wat is het en hoe meet je het?<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wat is je biologische leeftijd en hoe wordt die gemeten? Ontdek wat deze leeftijd vertelt over veroudering en je gezondheid.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/biological-age\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_GB\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Biologische leeftijd: hoe oud is je lichaam werkelijk?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Wat is je biologische leeftijd en hoe wordt die gemeten? Ontdek wat deze leeftijd vertelt over veroudering en je gezondheid.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/biological-age\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Wise Rootz\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wiserootz.nl\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-09-04T08:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1264\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"848\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Celine\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Celine\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Estimated reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Celine\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0e0faba03615f8ecd1fe962b724961e5\"},\"headline\":\"Biologische leeftijd: hoe oud is je lichaam werkelijk?\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-04T08:00:00+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1958,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Healthspan\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/\",\"name\":\"Biologische leeftijd: wat is het en hoe meet je het?\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-09-04T08:00:00+00:00\",\"description\":\"Wat is je biologische leeftijd en hoe wordt die gemeten? Ontdek wat deze leeftijd vertelt over veroudering en je gezondheid.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg\",\"width\":1264,\"height\":848,\"caption\":\"Tijd en biologie als visualisatie van biologische leeftijd\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/biologische-leeftijd\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"Biologische leeftijd: hoe oud is je lichaam werkelijk?\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/\",\"name\":\"Wise Rootz\",\"description\":\"Live better. Longer.\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/#organization\"},\"alternateName\":\"WR\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"Wise Rootz\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/11\\\/logo_wiserootz_dark.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2022\\\/11\\\/logo_wiserootz_dark.png\",\"width\":861,\"height\":217,\"caption\":\"Wise Rootz\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/0e0faba03615f8ecd1fe962b724961e5\",\"name\":\"Celine\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-GB\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/741d270fa16bdf64da82782f0a9db8ca1756f1569a8eefb69857a989d020e4f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/741d270fa16bdf64da82782f0a9db8ca1756f1569a8eefb69857a989d020e4f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/741d270fa16bdf64da82782f0a9db8ca1756f1569a8eefb69857a989d020e4f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Celine\"},\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/wiserootz.nl\\\/en\\\/author\\\/celine\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO Premium plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"Biological Age: What Is It and How Is It Measured?","description":"What is your biological age and how is it measured? Discover what it can reveal about ageing and your health.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/biological-age\/","og_locale":"en_GB","og_type":"article","og_title":"Biologische leeftijd: hoe oud is je lichaam werkelijk?","og_description":"Wat is je biologische leeftijd en hoe wordt die gemeten? Ontdek wat deze leeftijd vertelt over veroudering en je gezondheid.","og_url":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/biological-age\/","og_site_name":"Wise Rootz","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wiserootz.nl\/","article_published_time":"2026-09-04T08:00:00+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1264,"height":848,"url":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Celine","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Celine","Estimated reading time":"11 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/"},"author":{"name":"Celine","@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/#\/schema\/person\/0e0faba03615f8ecd1fe962b724961e5"},"headline":"Biologische leeftijd: hoe oud is je lichaam werkelijk?","datePublished":"2026-09-04T08:00:00+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/"},"wordCount":1958,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg","articleSection":["Healthspan"],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/","url":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/","name":"Biological Age: What Is It and How Is It Measured?","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg","datePublished":"2026-09-04T08:00:00+00:00","description":"What is your biological age and how is it measured? Discover what it can reveal about ageing and your health.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-GB","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg","width":1264,"height":848,"caption":"Tijd en biologie als visualisatie van biologische leeftijd"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/biologische-leeftijd\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Biologische leeftijd: hoe oud is je lichaam werkelijk?"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/#website","url":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/","name":"Wise Rootz","description":"Live better. Live longer.","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/#organization"},"alternateName":"WR","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-GB"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/#organization","name":"Wise Rootz","url":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/logo_wiserootz_dark.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/logo_wiserootz_dark.png","width":861,"height":217,"caption":"Wise Rootz"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/wiserootz.nl\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/#\/schema\/person\/0e0faba03615f8ecd1fe962b724961e5","name":"Celine","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-GB","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/741d270fa16bdf64da82782f0a9db8ca1756f1569a8eefb69857a989d020e4f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/741d270fa16bdf64da82782f0a9db8ca1756f1569a8eefb69857a989d020e4f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/741d270fa16bdf64da82782f0a9db8ca1756f1569a8eefb69857a989d020e4f0?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Celine"},"url":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/author\/celine\/"}]}},"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/biologische-leeftijd-wise-rootz.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14038","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=14038"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14038\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":14129,"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/14038\/revisions\/14129"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/14040"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=14038"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=14038"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wiserootz.nl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=14038"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}