The age displayed on our ID card does not always reflect that of our arteries. Many environmental factors can accelerate aging. Lately, private companies and medical spas have specialized in the biological age test, to be practiced ideally from the age of 45, when the mechanisms begin to malfunction. The goal ? Detect possible reversible weaknesses, to take care of them before they develop into pathologies.
Anti-aging assessment, what is it?
In the post-pandemic period, at a time when aging well has become one of our primary concerns, these assessments meet a certain need. “More and more people are interested in their health capital. The emergence of this type of assessment is justified”says Dr. Christophe de Jaeger, President of the French Society of Medicine and Physiology of Longevity and author of Longevity Medicine: A revolution (ed. Guy Trédaniel). Today, the concept of health has expanded, “it encompasses not only the absence of disease, but contains a more holistic dimension where The well-being has a role to play”continues Dr. Vicente Mera, Head of the Preventive and Anti-Aging Medicine Unit at the SHA Wellness Clinic.
This new science halfway between health and well-being attempts to identify weaknesses or fragilities in order to take care of them and prevent the occurrence of the disease. The line between medical and “well-being” seems tenuous, and for good reason: “It has long been known that the two are linked. The scientific and medical community readily admits that well-being complements medicine in terms of disease prevention“, adds Professor Jacques Proust, Medical and Scientific Director of the Diagnostic and Preventive Medicine Center at the Nescens-Genolier Clinic. Despite the presence of doctors in these structures, the approaches are more focused on healthy lifestyle gestures than on purely medical aspects.
What examinations are carried out?
To take stock of our state of fitness, aging well companies have a whole technological arsenal at their disposal. The assessments start with a questionnaire on medical and family history, on stress level, quality of sleep, diet, level of physical activity… Then, place for clinical examinations which vary from one company to another. Almost everything is tested, the age of the skin, the presence of heavy metals, flexibility, muscular strength, cognitive abilities, cardiovascular health, the composition of body mass, the level of oxidative stress… And the race for high-tech exams seems to have no limits. These structures use cutting-edge equipment: genetic and epigenetic tests, standard X-rays, ultrasound, magnetic resonance, biochemical profiling, rheumatic tests, hormonal assessments, vascular risk examinations, body oxidation test… Across the Atlantic, stars such as Kim Kardashian, Cindy Crawford and Bryan Johnson rush to perform a full-body MRI (Prenuvo) capable of detecting 500 pathologies. However, Professor Proust wishes to clarify: “To date, no institution recognizes complete MRI as a good diagnostic examination. The American College of Radiology has stated that there is “no documented evidence that total body scanning is cost-effective or effective in prolonging life.”“.
What is the purpose of an anti-aging assessment?
The stated goal of these assessments is to correct the situation before it is too late, before a pre-anomaly develops into a pathology. “Until now, we had no means of measuring our health capital. We can now calculate the physiological age of a person which is a reflection of their real age. A good basis for the implementation of preventive and sustainable interventions“, explains Dr de Jaeger. But be careful of marketing speeches, warns the longevity expert: “A certain number of companies wanted to ride this wave without having the skills. Human aging is extremely complex and there is no simple technique to measure it.”
Personalized advice after the assessment
At the time of the assessment, personalized recommendations are offered: “If necessary, we improve lifestyle habits related to nutrition, exercise, sleep, digestion, detoxification, hormonal balance and stress management. We offer an organic and healthy diet, supplementation with concentrated nutrients. explains Dr. Mera. Common sense recommendations that actually slow premature aging induced by our lifestyle. As long as you make them your own. “At tempoforme®, 3 to 6 months after the examinations, 50% of beneficiaries began to implement the recommendations. It’s not that bad, but not enough.”concedes Professor Eric Boulanger, tempoforme® Medical Director.
What is the cost of an anti-aging assessment?
Since the end of 2023, the Parisian start-up Zoï has offered a preventive program for €3,600 per year. The cost of the Prenuvo MRI is €2,400 and it costs €995 for an Epigenetic Assessment. Prices that can set back more than one person. In Lille, the tempoforme® preventive program system is completely free, from the questionnaire to the exams, the beneficiary does not have to pay anything. “The exams are covered by Health Insurance and financial support (CHU de Lille, CARSAT des Hauts-de-France). We carry out common sense exams to age well, without selling dreams”. Even if the structure is affiliated with the Lille University Hospital, Professor Boulanger* also wishes to recall the absolute well-being and non-medical dimension of the approach: “We are not looking for pathology, even if we can detect it, but above all for reversible weaknesses and fragilities. Our approach is focused on fitness and prevention. We are partly moving away from traditional curative medicine to move towards more well-being and complementary medicines such as sophrology, mindfulness meditationsleep, nutrition workshops… to move towards successful aging!”.
*Author of I decide to age well, in good health for a long time (ed. Odile Jacob)
Anti-aging and aesthetic medicine, what is the difference?
The first is interested in the medicine of “aging well”, while the second concerns the world of beauty.
Where to test your health capital?
- Tempoforme, in Lille
- Zoï and Maison Epigenetic, in Paris
- Nescens-Genolier Clinic, in Switzerland