Biological Aging and Heart-Healthy Behaviors

Heart-Healthy Behaviors Can Slow Biological Aging 

A new analysis presented at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association reveals that a person’s biological age can differ significantly from their chronological age based on heart health-related behaviors, as highlighted in the article “8 ways to slow your biological aging”.

Researchers from Columbia University found that aging can be decelerated by following the American Heart Association’s “Life’s Essential 8” recommendations. The study included data from more than 6,500 adults and showed that individuals who incorporated all eight recommendations into their daily lives could have a biological age up to five years younger than their chronological age.

The “Life’s Essential 8” recommendations from the American Heart Association are:

1. Eating a diet rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, healthy proteins, and minimally processed foods while reducing salt, alcohol, and added sugars.
2. Engaging in at least 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous physical activity per week, along with muscle-strengthening activities.
3. Avoiding smoking, as it is a major preventable cause of premature death.
4. Getting seven to nine hours of sleep per night.
5. Maintaining a healthy weight within the body mass index (BMI) range of 18.5 to 25.
6. Controlling cholesterol levels, with a recommended LDL cholesterol level of less than 100 for most adults.
7. Managing blood sugar with a fasting blood sugar level lower than 100 mg/dL. 
8. Maintaining healthy blood pressure, ideally with systolic and diastolic readings below 120 mm Hg and 80 mm Hg, respectively.

The study’s senior author, Nour Makarem, Ph. D., emphasized that higher cardiovascular health is associated with decelerated biological aging. Even gradual changes in these behaviors can improve heart health and slow down aging. For more in-depth information about your patient’s heart health, consider the cardioPro panels from Access Medical Labs. These panels look at multiple biomarkers that contribute to cardiovascular health, including lipoproteins, cholesterol levels, and more.

The research from Columbia University reveals that these eight factors are modifiable and can lead to improvements in the health of other organs, such as the liver and kidneys. In their mission to optimize health management strategies, healthcare providers can turn to the Wellness Panels designed by Access Medical Labs to evaluate patients’ metabolic and hormonal factors. Learn more about this resource and what is tested here.