Modern medicine has raised a critical question: How can we help people live better for longer? While lifespan measures the number of years lived, healthspan focuses on the quality of those years — how well we maintain our physical and mental health as we age.  

Research shows that biological age, which reflects the body's functional state, is often a better predictor of long-term health than chronological age.¹ How, then, can we best assess a body's current state, and how can we use those findings to develop targeted treatment plans? This was a focus of the 2024 Vibrant Longevity Summit, where talks centered on evaluating aging biomarkers to help practitioners identify early warning signs of accelerated aging and take proactive steps to address them. 

In the following article, I'll examine what happens to the body at the cellular level as it ages, introduce the Healthspan Assessment Panel—a test I use in my practice to help identify early warning signs of accelerated aging—and wrap up with some takeaways from the Vibrant Longevity Summit.  

Table of Contents

The Science of Aging: A Cellular Perspective 

Aging is not just about getting wrinkles or gray hair. It’s a complex process that occurs at the cellular level and plays an integral role in maintaining our mental and physical strength over time.  

As we age, key biological systems such as metabolism, inflammation control, and hormonal balance begin to decline. These changes can lead to chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's disease.²

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to help prevent or delay chronic disease.³ It starts with understanding the biological pathways involved in aging, which can help you identify early markers of decline and implement targeted interventions: 

• Mitochondrial dysfunction results as mitochondrial DNA accumulates damage from oxidative stress. The result is increased fatigue, metabolic inefficiencies, and a greater risk of neurodegenerative and cardiovascular diseases.⁴

• Chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”) increases oxidative stress, contributing to insulin resistance, cardiovascular disease, and neurodegenerative conditions. Persistent low-grade inflammation can weaken immune function, impair tissue repair, and accelerate biological aging.⁵

• Hormonal shifts, including declines in testosterone, estrogen, and IGF-1, impact muscle mass, cognitive function, and metabolic health.⁶ This can contribute to increased fat accumulation, decreased bone density, reduced recovery from exercise, and a heightened risk of metabolic syndrome.⁷

• Autophagy declines with age as the body has trouble clearing out damaged cells and regenerating new ones. The resulting accumulation of cellular waste contributes to inflammation, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders.⁸

• Epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation and histone modification, alter gene expression over time, influencing disease risk and biological aging.⁹

These age-related changes don’t happen overnight, nor do they affect everyone at the same rate. Diet, lifestyle, and genetics have been shown to significantly influence these pathways¹⁰, and several Vibrant Wellness tests can provide baseline readings on various longevity biomarkers. 

Biomarkers for Assessing Accelerated Aging 

Tracking aging biomarkers offers insights into the aging process and helps identify areas for targeted intervention.¹¹ This allows you to develop individual treatment plans for patients.¹² 

Metabolic Health 

• Fasting insulin, glycated serum protein (GSP), and HbA1c: Elevated levels suggest insulin resistance, a key driver of metabolic aging.¹³

• Adiponectin: Low levels are linked to poor glucose regulation and increased risk for metabolic syndrome.¹⁴

Inflammation and Oxidative Stress 

• Homocysteine, hs-CRP, and MPO: These markers of chronic inflammation are strongly linked to cardiovascular and cognitive decline.¹⁵

• Ferritin, RF IgM, and reverse T3: Signals of systemic inflammation¹⁶, these markers also relate to iron status, autoimmune activity, and thyroid function. 

• 8-OHdG (8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine): This is a key marker of oxidative DNA damage and a strong indicator of cellular stress¹⁷.  

Endocrine Function 

• Cortisol: Chronic elevation accelerates aging via stress-related pathways.¹⁸

• Thyroid hormones (TSH, free T3, free T4): Imbalances impact metabolism, energy, and cognitive function.¹⁹

• Sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, progesterone, DHEA-S): These hormones are crucial for muscle mass, bone health, cognitive function, and metabolic stability.²⁰

Cardiovascular Risk 

• Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] and ApoB: They indicate atherosclerotic plaque risk and are more predictive of cardiovascular disease than LDL alone.²¹

Cellular Function 

• IGF-1: High levels of this growth and repair regulator indicate accelerated aging, while low levels contribute to frailty.²²

• Cystatin C: Elevated levels of this longevity biomarker and kidney function indicator correlate with a reduced lifespan.²³

• GGT (gamma-glutamyl transferase): This enzyme reflects oxidative stress and mitochondrial health, both critical to aging.²⁴

• NAD+/NADH ratio and telomere length: These markers provide insights into cellular energy production and biological aging.²⁵

Biological Age Testing with the Healthspan Assessment Panel  

One excellent foundational test I use in my practice to help clients concerned with aging and long-term health is the Vibrant Wellness Healthspan Assessment Panel. It provides an in-depth analysis of over 100 aging biomarkers, offering a far more detailed evaluation than standard blood tests like a CBC or CMP.  

The test measures markers across the following key physiological systems: 

• Nutritional status: Iron, folate, vitamin D, vitamin B12 

• Blood sugar regulation: Glucose, HbA1c, GSP, adiponectin, leptin 

• Inflammation and oxidative stress: hs-CRP, ferritin, ox-LDL, homocysteine, MPO, PLAC 

• Autoimmunity: RF IgM, ANA, anti-TPO 

• Endocrine function: Cortisol, sex hormones, thyroid hormones 

• Immune system: Total IgG, Total IgM, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes 

• Metabolic and organ function: ALT, AST, GGT (liver), BUN, creatinine, cystatin C (kidney) 

• Cardiovascular health: LDL, sdLDL, HDL, triglycerides, Apo A-1, ApoB 

Instead of looking at reference ranges, this tool identifies optimal levels for these markers. 

Case Study: Healthspan Assessment and Treatment Plan 

A 55-year-old male patient came to me complaining of fatigue and weight gain despite a good diet and regular exercise. He was also experiencing increased body aches and poor recovery from exercise, which he attributed to getting older. One thing stood out: He regularly woke up tired despite getting 8 hours of sleep. 

The Healthspan Assessment Panel revealed the following:  

• Elevated fasting insulin and HbA1c levels, signs of early insulin resistance 

• High hs-CRP, plus elevated ferritin, iron saturation percentage, and elevated liver enzymes, pointing to systemic inflammation caused by iron overload 

• Elevated hemoglobin, which can be associated with sleep apnea 

• Low testosterone levels, contributing to his fatigue and poor recovery 

• Excellent nutritional markers 

Based on these findings and his case history, I recommended the following:  

• Test for sleep apnea. The results showed moderate sleep apnea, which could explain his low testosterone and also contribute to insulin resistance despite a good diet. 

• Donate blood to lower high iron markers after confirming hemochromatosis.  

• Reduce intense cardiovascular exercise (the patient was a long-distance runner), and incorporate more strength training and shorter Zone 2 runs. 

• Limit supplementation to omega-3s and increase protein and creatine to assess the effects of these lifestyle changes. 

After two months on his personalized plan, the patient began waking up with more energy. In addition, a retest showed that the patient's insulin and HbA1C levels were heading toward the optimal range, his testosterone was increasing, and, after a blood donation, his elevated ferritin and iron saturation percentage were in the normal range. 

Optimizing the Healthspan Assessment with Additional Tests 

Vibrant Wellness offers several complementary advanced biomarker testing kits that you can use with the Healthspan Assessment Panel:

Gut Zoomer Test: Assesses gut inflammation, the health of the microbiome, and markers like pancreatic elastase to make sure patients are absorbing nutrients. I order this test frequently, as gut health can influence many other aspects of health. 

Total Tox Burden Test: Assesses the body's toxic load and helps clients understand how proactive they need to be in reducing environmental toxins. 

Oxidative Stress Profile: Assesses genetics and oxidative stress markers associated with aging. Genetics can influence how well our bodies can detoxify.²⁶ This profile suggests how the body's toxic load may be affecting the patient and whether detoxification needs to be a main treatment focus. 

Micronutrient Panel: Assesses the body's ability to absorb vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients, which may indicate issues with inflammation or autoimmunity. 

Hormone Zoomer: Measures adrenal and sex hormones, along with their metabolites. It also evaluates endocrine disruptors and bone health markers, offering insight into hormone patterns, detoxification capacity, and environmental exposures. 

Takeaways from the Vibrant Longevity Summit  

The Vibrant Longevity Summit zeroed in on some of the biggest concerns patients and practitioners have about aging well. While there is no magic bullet, incorporating Vibrant Wellness' integrative health testing tools into your practice can help you elevate the care you provide to your patients. Here are some additional takeaways to consider: 

1. Inflammation is the root cause of aging, a belief emphasized in several sessions. It increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, neurodegeneration, and metabolic disorders. Some of the Healthspan Assessment Panel markers that can help you identify inflammation include hs-CRP, MPO, PLAC, homocysteine, ferritin, and oxidized LDL.
2. Environmental toxins and those produced by gut bacteria can accelerate aging by impacting metabolism, immune function, and methylation. The Healthspan Assessment Panel can assess liver enzymes and ferritin, but adding tests like the Oxidative Stress Profile, Total Tox Burden Test, and Wheat Zoomer Test will give you a detailed analysis of toxic load and levels of lipopolysaccharides.
3. The four longevity pathways—insulin signaling, mTOR inhibition, AMPK activation, and sirtuins—play a significant role in aging. The Healthspan Assessment Panel can monitor some of these switches through insulin, HbA1c, GSP, adiponectin, IGF-1, cortisol, and testosterone.
4. Many cutting-edge therapies can help with longevity and improved health. While some are expensive, others are more accessible and easy to implement. These include fasting for 12-16 hours daily, resistance training, improving VO2 max through aerobic training, using hormonal stressors like cold and heat exposure, and maintaining social connections.  

The Future of Aging Well 

We have incredible potential to extend not just our lifespan but also our healthspan — ensuring that we stay active, energetic, and disease-free for as long as possible.  

The Healthspan Assessment Panel, along with other Vibrant Wellness tests, can help you conduct testing, create targeted treatment plans to help mitigate cellular aging, and educate patients on ways to be more proactive about their health journey. 

Want living proof that we can modify how well we age? Watch Dr. Jeffrey Gladden's talk from the Summit. 

About the Author

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The information presented in case studies have been de-identified in accordance with the HIPAA Privacy protection.

The general wellness test intended uses relate to sustaining or offering general improvement to functions associated with a general state of health while making reference to diseases or conditions. This test has been laboratory developed and its performance characteristics determined by Vibrant America LLC and Vibrant Genomics, a CLIA-certified and CAP-accredited laboratory performing the test. The lab tests referenced have not been cleared or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Although FDA does not currently clear or approve laboratory-developed tests in the U.S., certification of the laboratory is required under CLIA to ensure the quality and validity of the test