Manhattan, New York — Tally Health, a biotechnology company based in Manhattan, has unveiled a new technology called CheekAge that uses cells from your cheeks to determine your biological age. This biological age is a representation of the age of your cells and tissues, which might not necessarily align with your chronological age. Studies have shown that a significant difference between your biological and chronological age can impact your risk of disease and mortality.
Unlike most tests that rely on blood DNA to predict biological age, CheekAge is a non-invasive cheek swab. Researchers at Tally Health recently published a study in Frontiers in Aging where they tested the CheekAge technology using blood samples from a group of 1,500 UK senior citizens.
Max Shokhirev, head of computational biology and data science at Tally Health, explained that CheekAge is not meant to predict when or how someone might die, but rather to demonstrate the relationship between biological age, chronological age, and mortality risk. The technology takes into account lifestyle factors like sleep, exercise, and alcohol consumption, as well as health factors such as COVID-19 status.
The study participants had their blood tested for DNA methylation every three years, with the latest data point used to calculate their CheekAge. DNA methylation is a natural process where chemical tags are added to DNA, impacting gene function while keeping the genetic code intact. Tally Health found that CheekAge outperformed earlier-generation clocks and was comparable to DNAm PhenoAge, a blood-trained predictor of chronic disease and mortality risk.
Adiv Johnson, head of scientific affairs and education at Tally Health, mentioned ongoing research to identify variables and metrics associated with CheekAge, including different diseases, health conditions, and lifestyle factors. The technology, launched earlier this year, has the potential to provide valuable insights into individual health and longevity.