Your birthday tells you your chronological age. “Biological age” tries to answer a more useful question: how fast is your body actually aging? Two tests dominate the longevity world — and they measure subtly different things.
PhenoAge — a snapshot from your blood
PhenoAge estimates your biological age from standard blood markers (inflammation, glucose, immune measures) combined with your chronological age. It’s affordable and it’s the clock used by the Longevity World Cup. Think: “Given my labs, how old does my body look right now?”
- Cost: often ~$50–150 on top of routine bloodwork.
- Best for: an affordable baseline you can re-check regularly.
DunedinPACE — your speedometer
DunedinPACE is an epigenetic test (measuring DNA methylation) that estimates your current pace of aging. A score of 1.0 = aging one year per year; below 1.0 = slower. It’s the metric behind the Rejuvenation Olympics. Think: “How fast am I aging right now?”
- Cost: ~$229 (e.g., TruAge PACE).
- Best for: tracking whether your habits are slowing your aging.
Snapshot vs. speedometer — which do you need?
PhenoAge tells you where you are; DunedinPACE tells you which direction and how fast you’re moving. Many start with PhenoAge (cheaper, easy to repeat) and add DunedinPACE once actively optimizing. A comprehensive epigenetic panel (~$429–499) bundles biological age, organ-level aging, and DunedinPACE together.
What actually moves these numbers
Not a supplement — the fundamentals: regular exercise (aerobic + strength), a mostly-plant diet with adequate protein, good sleep, stress management, and not smoking. The clock is just feedback; the habits do the work.
For the full cost breakdown by tier, see How to Measure Your Pace of Aging.
Want a longevity plan built around your goals, labs, and budget? Pierre Health offers personalized, virtual-first longevity care for patients in Minnesota & Wisconsin — at the tier that fits you.
About the author: Isaac Pierre, PA-C, is a board-certified Physician Associate and founder of Pierre Health, providing virtual-first primary care, functional medicine, and longevity care to patients in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Medical disclaimer: This article is for general educational purposes and is not medical advice. It does not establish a provider-patient relationship. Lab and test costs are typical ranges and vary by provider. Talk with a qualified clinician before changing your diet, exercise, supplement, or medication routine — especially if you have a medical condition.