{"id":801801,"date":"2024-04-02T09:56:28","date_gmt":"2024-04-02T09:56:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-ageing-well-healthy-habits-copy\/"},"modified":"2024-06-10T13:56:42","modified_gmt":"2024-06-10T13:56:42","slug":"blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/","title":{"rendered":"The Best Blood Tests for Longevity"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"bsf_rt_marker\"><\/div><p>[et_pb_section fb_built=&#8221;1&#8243; admin_label=&#8221;Section&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; collapsed=&#8221;off&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_row admin_label=&#8221;Row&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.22.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_column type=&#8221;4_4&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.19.5&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][et_pb_text ul_item_indent=&#8221;50px&#8221; admin_label=&#8221;Text&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; text_font=&#8221;Open Sans||||||||&#8221; link_font=&#8221;|600|||||||&#8221; ul_text_align=&#8221;left&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Blood tests play a crucial role in offering <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-essential-blood-tests-for-health-and-fitness\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">insights into our overall health and fitness<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at the best blood tests for longevity and healthy ageing, as well as some additional scans and tests for longevity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"What_can_longevity_blood_tests_tell_us_about_our_health\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">What can longevity blood tests tell us about our health?<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2><div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_81 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-grey ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title ez-toc-toggle\" style=\"cursor:pointer\">Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#What_can_longevity_blood_tests_tell_us_about_our_health\" >What can longevity blood tests tell us about our health?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#The_most_important_blood_tests_for_longevity\" >The most important blood tests for longevity<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#Blood_glucose\" >Blood glucose<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#Lipid_panel\" >Lipid panel\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#Inflammation_markers\" >Inflammation markers\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#Hormone_levels\" >Hormone levels\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#Complete_blood_count\" >Complete blood count<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#Other_types_of_longevity_test\" >Other types of longevity test<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#DEXA_scan\" >DEXA scan\u00a0<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#VO2_Max_test\" >VO2 Max test<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-11\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#Grip_strength_test\" >Grip strength test\u00a0<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-12\" href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-best-blood-tests-for-longevity\/#Longevity_blood_testing_to_outlive_your_years\" >Longevity blood testing to outlive your years<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">There are a few ways that blood tests can offer information on longevity. Blood tests can:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Assess our current health status<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Indicate the presence (or risk) of chronic disease<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Identify nutrient or mineral deficiencies<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Assess inflammation levels\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Measure hormone levels\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Assess markers of cellular health\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Assess risk factors for age-related disease\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Specifically, longevity blood tests can look at:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Metabolic health (including cholesterol, glucose, and liver and kidney function)<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Cardiovascular health\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Endurance and recovery\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Hormonal health\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Inflammation levels\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/outlive-your-years\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Longevity testing<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> can help identify risk factors or markers of disease early, giving you time to take action. By correcting any deficiencies and addressing risk factors early, you can help prevent (or delay) the onset of age-related diseases, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/blog-ageing-well-healthy-habits\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">safeguard your health as you age<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_most_important_blood_tests_for_longevity\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">The most important blood tests for longevity <\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1403753498.jpg&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Let\u2019s take a look at the most important blood tests for longevity, what they test, and why they\u2019re important.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Blood_glucose\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Blood glucose<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">While we might typically associate measuring blood glucose levels with the management (or prevention) of diabetes, blood glucose levels are a useful metric for everyone.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">How efficiently our body metabolises glucose is a key marker of longevity. Even slightly raised blood glucose levels \u2013 within a normal range \u2013 can impact our health over time. Blood glucose spikes are linked to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/link.springer.com\/article\/10.1186\/s12933-020-01085-6\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">cardiovascular damage and premature mortality<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, as well as <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/35741952\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">higher body weight and BMI<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/33846643\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">increased hunger after meals<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">There are a few different ways to measure blood glucose levels, including:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"list-style-type: none;\">\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 600;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Fasting plasma blood glucose (FPG) test: <\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Measures blood glucose levels after 8-12 hours of fasting. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 600;\" aria-level=\"1\">HbA1c test:<span style=\"font-size: 15px; font-weight: 500;\"> <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300;\">Measures blood glucose levels over the last 30 days; doesn\u2019t require fasting.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 600;\" aria-level=\"1\">Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT): <span style=\"font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300;\">Measures blood glucose levels after the ingestion of a high-sugar drink to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fastlifehacks.com\/peter-attia-top-5-blood-tests\/#Test_3_Oral_Glucose_Tolerance_Test_OGTT\" style=\"font-size: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">measure response to glucose<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300;\">. <\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 600;\" aria-level=\"1\">Continuous blood glucose monitoring: <span style=\"font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300;\">Measures blood glucose continually throughout the day \u2013 both in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/peterattiamd.com\/cgm-in-non-diabetics\/\" style=\"font-size: 15px;\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">those with diabetes and without<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-size: 15px; font-weight: 300;\">. <\/span><span style=\"font-size: 15px;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">In addition to functioning as diagnostic tools for diabetes and prediabetes, blood glucose tests can be informative as a measure of overall health. These tests are excellent indicators of metabolic health and insulin sensitivity and can help predict longevity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/blood-testing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">on-the-spot HbA1c blood test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> at My Vital Metrics is a great place to start in understanding your blood glucose levels and diabetes risk.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Lipid_panel\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Lipid panel\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/blood-testing\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">lipid panel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> is a type of blood test that measures your cholesterol. A lipid panel typically includes measures of total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and triglycerides. A lipid panel test can assess whether your cholesterol falls into a \u201cnormal\u201d, \u201cintermediate\u201d or \u201chigh risk\u201d category \u2013 this information can be the starting place for making lifestyle changes to reduce your risk and increase longevity.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">In addition to a lipid panel test, you might choose to get more advanced cholesterol measures, such as:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 600;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)-P) test<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">: Measures the amount of Lp(a) (a type of cholesterol linked to CVD) in your blood.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 600;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Apolipoprotein A1 (ApoA1) test<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">: Measures the amount of ApoA lipoprotein (a protein that transports HDL cholesterol) in your blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">Apolipoprotein B (ApoB) test<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">: Also known as the LDL-P test, this measures the amount of ApoB lipoprotein (a protein that transports LDL cholesterol) in your blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 600;\">ApoA: ApoB ratio test<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">: Measures the ratio of\u00a0 ApoA and ApoB lipoproteins in your blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">High cholesterol is a risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, which is <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com\/articles\/10.1186\/s12889-023-17456-z#:~:text=In%20general%2C%20life%20expectancy%20at,%25)%20were%20lived%20with%20CVD.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">associated with reduced longevity<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">. While all measures of cholesterol can prove usual, Dr Peter Attia recommends the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/fastlifehacks.com\/peter-attia-top-5-blood-tests\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Lp(a)-P and ApoB tests<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> specifically when it comes to promoting longevity.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">If you\u2019re interested in assessing your risk and increasing longevity, you can assess all these biomarkers through the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/optimal-health-blood-test\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Optimal Health Blood Test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> at My Vital Metrics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Inflammation_markers\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Inflammation markers\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">While inflammation is a natural response of the immune system to infection, chronic inflammation can become a problem.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Chronic inflammation is an ongoing low-level type of inflammation. This can be a symptom of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.webmd.com\/a-to-z-guides\/autoimmune-diseases\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">autoimmune conditions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus (lupus), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and multiple sclerosis (ME), or a side effect of certain lifestyle choices or high levels of stress.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Chronic inflammation can be dangerous as there may not be any obvious symptoms to begin with, but \u2013 over time \u2013 high levels of inflammation can wreak havoc on our health. Inflammation has been linked to a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/books\/NBK493173\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">wide range of health conditions<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic respiratory conditions, cancer, and heart disorders.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">You can check on your levels of inflammation with a blood test for <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/tests-procedures\/c-reactive-protein-test\/about\/pac-20385228\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">C-reactive protein<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/tests-procedures\/c-reactive-protein-test\/about\/pac-20385228\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">high-sensitivity C-reactive protei<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">n \u2013 two biomarkers of inflammation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Hormone_levels\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Hormone levels\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Hormones are essential in the day-to-day functioning of the body. Certain hormones also play a role in how well we age, such as thyroid hormones (T4 (free thyroxine) and TSH) and sex hormones (such as testosterone, oestrogen, and progesterone).<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">In addition to impacting metabolism, thyroid health can have knock-on effects on many other areas of our health, such as our cardiovascular, reproductive, digestive, and mental health. A thyroid panel test (or <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/optimal-health-blood-test\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">blood test panel<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> that includes this) can screen for markers of hypothyroidism or hyperthyroidism, the two most common thyroid conditions.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Complete_blood_count\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Complete blood count<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">A complete blood count (CBC) is a basic blood test that takes a look at your overall health. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.mayoclinic.org\/tests-procedures\/complete-blood-count\/about\/pac-20384919\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">complete blood count <\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">measures the amount of red blood cells, white blood cells, haemoglobin, hematocrit, and platelets in your blood.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">This test can be used to quickly screen for conditions such as anaemia and blood disorders, as well as highlight signs of infection and assess how well your blood clots. There is also research to suggest that <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC9687310\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">cardiovascular and metabolic disorders can be predicted<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> based on CBC metrics.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">While a full blood count won\u2019t directly predict longevity, it\u2019s an important blood test to have done as part of a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/optimal-health-blood-test\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">general health check up<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Other_types_of_longevity_test\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Other types of longevity test <\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_213125530.jpg&#8221; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Blood tests can offer a wealth of information about our health and longevity, but there are other tests that can give additional insights. Let\u2019s take a look at 3 of the top tests for longevity:\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"DEXA_scan\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">DEXA scan\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The DEXA scan is the gold-standard in body composition analysis. A <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/dexa\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">DEXA scan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> can tell you a wide range of body composition metrics, including your:\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Fat mass &amp; body fat percentage<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Lean mass &amp; lean mass percentage<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Visceral fat<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Fat and lean mass distribution<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Android: gynoid ratio<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Bone density<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 300;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Resting metabolic rate (RMR)<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">When it comes to longevity, the optimal body weight and BMI have been subject to extensive discussion. However, when it comes to body composition, things are a little clearer. Higher lean mass and lower fat mass are both strongly associated with decreased risk of mortality. Specifically, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC5619737\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">high levels of visceral fat<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> \u2013 the \u201chidden\u201d fat around our organs \u2013 are linked to a higher risk of cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and certain cancers.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">There are many ways we can work to improve our body composition, and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/dexa\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">getting a DEXA scan<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> is a great way to assess where we stand and keep an idea on hidden metrics such as visceral fat.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"VO2_Max_test\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">VO2 Max test<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The gold standard in cardiovascular assessment, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/vo2max\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">VO2 Max test<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> is a graded exercise test that measures maximal oxygen uptake.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">The VO2 Max is an incredibly important test for longevity, as it has been shown to have an <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/peterattiamd.com\/how-does-vo2-max-correlate-with-longevity\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">inverse relationship with all-cause mortality<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> \u2013 the higher your VO2 Max score, the greater the reduction in risk of death by all causes.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">One of the benefits of measuring and understanding your VO2 Max in the context of longevity is that increasing your VO2 Max is absolutely achievable \u2013 and you don\u2019t have to be an elite athlete to see the difference! Even improving from a below average VO2 Max score to an average score is estimated to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/jamanetwork.com\/journals\/jamanetworkopen\/fullarticle\/2707428\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">decrease your risk of mortality<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> over the next decade by as much as 50%.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Grip_strength_test\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Grip strength test\u00a0<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Our final longevity metric is a bit of a surprising one \u2013 grip strength!<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Research shows that grip strength is a key metric for predicting longevity, with weak grip strength being consistently linked to faster ageing. In fact, grip strength is such a strong predictor, that it even <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC6778477\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">predicts longevity more successfully than blood pressure<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Curious about how your grip strength stacks up? Book a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/functional-movement\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">functional movement assessment<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> to find out.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"><\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Longevity_blood_testing_to_outlive_your_years\"><\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 500;\">Longevity blood testing to outlive your years<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=&#8221;https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/04\/shutterstock_1543794527.jpg&#8221; alt=&#8221;An older white couple embraces in an outside setting. &#8221; title_text=&#8221;shutterstock_1543794527&#8243; _builder_version=&#8221;4.24.2&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text _builder_version=&#8221;4.25.1&#8243; _module_preset=&#8221;default&#8221; global_colors_info=&#8221;{}&#8221;]<\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">At My Vital Metrics, our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/outlive-your-years\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Outlive Your Years bundle<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\"> is specifically designed to target metrics that predict longevity. Inspired by the work of physician and author Dr Peter Attia, the Outlive Your Years bundle is a comprehensive health screen that includes body composition, cardiovascular, and functional strength tests. Want even more detail? Our <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/services\/optimal-health-blood-test\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">Optimal Health<\/span><\/a> <span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">blood test panel makes a great addition for anyone looking to optimise their health as they age.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">To find out more, or to schedule a free health and fitness consultation, <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">reach out to My Vital Metrics today<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 300;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>[\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blood tests play a crucial role in offering insights into our overall health and fitness.\u00a0 In this article, we\u2019ll take a look at the best blood tests for longevity and healthy ageing, as well as some additional scans and tests for longevity.\u00a0 What can longevity blood tests tell us about our health? There are a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":801805,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[56,59,55,31],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-801801","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-blood-testing","category-health-and-fitness-testing","category-health-and-longevity","category-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/801801","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=801801"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/801801\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":802309,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/801801\/revisions\/802309"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/801805"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=801801"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=801801"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/myvitalmetrics.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=801801"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}