Immortality comes a step closer with new longevity test, reports elixirnews

Nov. 16, 2012 - PRLog -- The first blood test to measure how fast our DNA is ageing has been launched in the UK.

The TAT (Telomere Analysis Technology) test, measures the length of telemeres, the tiny caps at the top of our DNA.  It's already been scientifically proven that the shorter they become the closer we come to the end of life and/or likely to be suffering from life-threatening  diseases or accelerated ageing.


Until now the only commercially available tests have measured the average length of telomeres - not how many are ageing or the percentage that are getting shorter. The idea behind the test is to measure chronological age against the biological age indicated by the damage to telemeres and then taking actions to reverse it.

Telomere damage can be stopped and even reversed by making lifestyle changes such as taking more exercise, a healthier diet and vitamins. There are also some substances which are known as 'telomere activators' and promote telomorase, the enzyme which helps lengthen them. These incude some anabolic steroids and TA65  a supplement made from a plant source.

In humans, as cells replicate, the telomere length decreases. And those suffering from diseases will have far shorter than average telemeres which eventually leads to faster or total cell death.

The company behind this new development is a new Spanish biotech, Life Length (mailto:annette.wilkinson@tdlpathology.com), which has been spun out research by the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre in Madrid and specific work by its Director Dr Maria Blasco.  

The company has been partly funded by the Spanish government and US venture capital. So far $20 million has been invested over the last five years in developing and refining the technology.he test, at more than £650 is being made available through private doctors, who will guide a patient through the process, the results and the changes that should be made to lifestyle. Patients will also be asked, to anonymously contribute to research through a questionnaire to further enable medical knowledge into ageing diseases.