Is Your Body Aging Faster Than It Should? Here’s What to Do

Barbara Johnson, MD
28 minutes ago
4 min read

We all know how many birthdays we’ve had (whether we like to admit it or not). But what most people don’t know is that your chronological age—the number on your driver’s license—may not actually reflect how old your body feels, functions, or heals. That’s where biological age comes in.

Unlike chronological age, your biological age reflects the actual state of your cells, tissues, and organ systems. It’s shaped not just by time, but by the choices you make every day—your diet, sleep quality, stress load, environment, and even how you manage your emotions. In other words, you have far more control over your biological age than you might think.

And here's the most exciting part: biological age is a far better predictor of disease risk, longevity, and overall health than chronological age. In this blog, we’ll break down what biological age really means, how you can measure it, and what you can start doing today to roll back the clock—naturally.

What Is Biological Age, Really?

Biological age (sometimes called "physiological age") is the age of your cells and systems, not just the years you’ve been alive. It reflects how efficiently your body is functioning—how well your organs, immune system, brain, and hormones are working together to keep you healthy and resilient.

If you’ve taken great care of yourself—eating clean, exercising, managing stress—your biological age could be younger than your actual age. But if you’ve struggled with chronic stress, poor sleep, nutrient deficiencies, or toxic exposures, your biological age may be accelerated—even if you feel “fine.”

Some of the biggest factors that influence biological aging include:

Chronic stress and high cortisol
Poor sleep quality or irregular sleep
Tobacco and vaping
Alcohol consumption
UV/sun exposure and skin damage
Processed or inflammatory diets
High body fat or insulin resistance
Hormonal imbalances
Exposure to environmental toxins
Genetic and epigenetic factors

But here’s the good news: unlike your birth date, biological age is changeable. In fact, it can be reversed.

How We Measure It: The TruAge™ Epigenetic Test

One of the most accurate ways to assess biological age is through epigenetic methylation testing—and TruAge™ is currently one of the most advanced tests available.

Let’s break that down:

Epigenetics is the study of how your behaviors and environment influence how your genes are expressed. These changes don't alter your DNA sequence, but they can turn genes on or off, impacting everything from inflammation to metabolism.

DNA methylation is one of the most important epigenetic mechanisms. It involves attaching tiny chemical tags (called methyl groups) to your DNA, which regulate how your genes behave—like dimmer switches for your health.

Over time, unhealthy methylation patterns—driven by things like chronic inflammation, poor diet, or toxin exposure—can accelerate cellular aging and trigger disease processes. On the flip side, healthy lifestyle changes can help restore methylation balance and rejuvenate your biological systems.

The TruAge test examines over 900,000 DNA methylation sites in your genome. It doesn’t just guess your biological age—it compares your unique methylation patterns to those found in large population databases and uses AI-powered algorithms to deliver:

Your biological age
Your rate of aging (how fast your body is aging right now)
Your risk for age-related conditions like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and more

This level of insight is a powerful tool for preventive health. It gives you the data you need to make personalized decisions that support longevity, energy, and disease prevention.

What to Do If Your Bio Age Is Higher Than You’d Like

Don’t panic—you’re not stuck with your biological age. Research now shows that it’s possible to reverse biological aging by 3 years or more in as little as 8 weeks through targeted diet and lifestyle interventions.

Here’s where to start:

Eat a colorful, anti-inflammatory diet rich in polyphenols, healthy fats, and clean protein. Include cruciferous vegetables (like broccoli sprouts) to support methylation.
Incorporate regular movement, walking, strength training, and low-impact cardio all help regulate blood sugar and support hormone balance.
Prioritize 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep each night. This is when your body repairs, resets, and regulates inflammation.
Manage chronic stress with practices like breathwork, meditation, journaling, and time outdoors.
Support natural detoxification through sauna, hydration, fiber-rich foods, and liver-supportive nutrients like glutathione and N-acetylcysteine.
Try time-restricted eating or intermittent fasting (like a 16:8 window) to improve cellular repair and reduce oxidative stress.
Avoid methylation disruptors like alcohol, processed food, heavy metals, and synthetic personal care products.

For those with a significantly elevated biological age, or genetic vulnerabilities in detox or hormone pathways, a more comprehensive and guided approach is key.

How The Johnson Center Can Help

At The Johnson Center, we offer comprehensive TruAge testing alongside fully personalized protocols to help you identify what’s driving premature aging—and what to do about it.

We use your test results to build a tailored plan that may include: