Longevity diagnostics · London
Epigenetic age testing, read honestly.
DNA methylation clocks estimate biological age from a blood or cheek-swab sample. The science is genuinely interesting. The clinical utility for an individual patient remains limited. Here is what the tests measure, what they do not, and what the number is actually worth.
What it is
A methylation snapshot of your cells.
As cells age, methyl groups attach to and detach from specific CpG sites on your DNA in patterns that track biological ageing. A cheek swab or blood sample is processed on a methylation array, and an algorithm converts the pattern into an estimated age.
The sample
Buccal swab or venous blood, posted to a specialist lab. Non-invasive, no fasting required.
The result
Biological age vs chronological age, ageing pace vs peers, and a trajectory if you repeat the test over time.
What it is not
It is not a diagnostic test. It does not identify a disease, screen for cancer, or replace routine medical follow-up.
The clocks
Not all clocks measure the same thing.
Five main clocks are in general use. Most commercial reports include several so you can see the pattern rather than a single number.
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Horvath (2013)
The original multi-tissue clock. Trained on 353 CpG sites across 51 tissue types. Strong chronological age correlation. Now considered a first-generation clock.
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Hannum (2013)
Blood-based clock built on 71 CpG sites. Similar first-generation design. Both Horvath and Hannum predict chronological age well but weaker on health outcomes.
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PhenoAge (Levine 2018)
Second-generation clock trained against nine clinical biomarkers of ageing. Better at predicting mortality and disease onset than the original clocks.
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GrimAge (Lu 2019)
Third-generation clock trained on plasma proteins and smoking pack-years. Currently the strongest single predictor of all-cause mortality in published data.
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DunedinPACE (Belsky 2020)
Measures pace of ageing per calendar year, not cumulative age. Derived from the Dunedin longitudinal cohort. A pace of 1.0 is average; 1.2 means ageing 20 percent faster than peers.
The evidence
Strong at population level. Modest for individuals.
The published literature is genuine, but read carefully before you spend.
What is well supported
- Robust association between accelerated epigenetic age and all-cause mortality across large cohorts.
- Association with cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, dementia and frailty.
- Observational shifts in TruAge readings with exercise, weight loss, quitting smoking, and hormone replacement therapy for menopause.
What is not settled
- The individual result usually falls within plus or minus 5 years of chronological age.
- Not endorsed by NICE or the USPSTF for clinical decision-making.
- Fahy 2019 TRIIM trial (growth hormone, metformin, DHEA) reported 2.5-year age reversal in nine men, unblinded and uncontrolled.
- Changing the number has not been proven to change disease outcomes versus following standard lifestyle guidance.
Interpretation
The answer was already on the list.
Whatever number the report returns, the interventions with the strongest outcome evidence are the ones you already know.
- Mediterranean-style diet
- Regular aerobic and resistance exercise
- 7 to 9 hours of quality sleep
- No smoking, moderate alcohol
- Active stress management
- Weight optimisation
- HRT for symptomatic menopause where appropriate
- Routine screening: BP, lipids, HbA1c, cancer
A quiet warning
Do not make major medical, financial or lifestyle decisions on the basis of an epigenetic age result alone.
The number is a complementary signal, useful for curiosity and for tracking a trend over years. It is not a substitute for clinical assessment, and no responsible clinician will manage your health from a methylation array.
Indicative pricing
What it costs in London.
Not reimbursed by private medical insurance. Paid out of pocket.
| Option | Indicative range | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Single test (TruAge, Index, MyDNAge) | £250-£450 | 4-6 weeks |
| Repeat test (3-6 monthly, to track a trajectory) | £150-£280 | 4-6 weeks |
| Annual longevity clinic bundle (bloods, DEXA, VO2 max, epigenetic) | £1,800-£8,500 | 2-6 weeks |
Where to test
UK providers we recognise.
A short list of clinics and direct-to-consumer laboratories offering epigenetic age panels in the UK.
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Longevity Health, London
Concierge longevity clinic offering TruAge and DunedinPACE within broader biomarker bundles.
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Hurdle Health, UK
At-home blood collection with laboratory methylation analysis. Direct-to-consumer.
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HCA Wellington, concierge
Executive health assessments that can include epigenetic ageing panels on request.
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London Medical
Private clinic offering longevity assessments and repeat epigenetic testing.
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TruDiagnostic UK partners
TruAge kits distributed through partnered clinics and functional medicine practitioners in the UK.
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Randox Health
Comprehensive wellbeing panels; epigenetic age can be added to certain packages.
Frequently asked
The questions we get before anyone pays.
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How accurate is epigenetic age testing?
Modern clocks like GrimAge and DunedinPACE correlate strongly with chronological age and, more importantly, with all-cause mortality risk at the population level. For an individual result the confidence interval is usually plus or minus 3 to 5 years. Two samples from the same person taken weeks apart can differ by a year or two. Treat the number as a rough signal, not a precise measurement.
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Is the result actionable?
Only in a limited sense. If your biological age reads higher than your chronological age, the evidence-based response is the same set of lifestyle interventions that already have strong outcome data: Mediterranean-style diet, regular exercise, adequate sleep, no smoking, moderate alcohol, stress management, weight optimisation, and hormone replacement where clinically indicated for menopause. Epigenetic testing has not been shown to improve clinical outcomes over following those guidelines directly.
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How do the clocks compare?
First-generation clocks (Horvath, Hannum) predict chronological age well but weaker on health. Second-generation (PhenoAge) tracks clinical biomarkers. Third-generation (GrimAge) is currently the strongest mortality predictor. DunedinPACE is different again: it measures ageing speed rather than cumulative age. Most commercial reports include several clocks so you can see the pattern.
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Will private insurance cover it?
No. UK private medical insurers do not currently reimburse epigenetic age testing. It is not recommended by NICE, USPSTF or any major clinical guideline for individual patient care. You pay privately.
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Can you reverse your epigenetic age?
The Fahy 2019 TRIIM trial (growth hormone plus metformin plus DHEA in 9 men) reported a mean 2.5-year reduction in epigenetic age over one year. The study was small, unblinded and uncontrolled. Observational data links improvements in TruAge readings to exercise, weight loss, quitting smoking and HRT. None of this proves that changing the clock reading changes actual disease outcomes.
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Should this replace routine medical care?
No. Epigenetic age is not diagnostic of any disease. It does not replace blood pressure, cholesterol, HbA1c, cancer screening, or clinical assessment. Do not defer or change any medical treatment on the basis of an epigenetic result. It is informational and complementary at best.
Considering an epigenetic panel?
Talk to a clinician before you order the kit.
We will tell you honestly whether an epigenetic test adds anything useful to your situation, and if a broader longevity assessment or a specific clinical review would serve you better first.