A younger score is not a longer life
Epigenetic clocks use patterns of chemical marks on DNA to estimate aspects of ageing. They are statistical models, not countdowns. Different models and the mix of cells in a sample can affect interpretation. A lower score after an intervention does not, by itself, establish less disability or a longer life. Ask what changed outside the test.
Put an ordinary outcome on the list
Name something you want to keep doing: carrying groceries, climbing stairs, playing an instrument. This makes “healthspan” concrete: years lived with useful function. It also sets a demanding question for any intervention: does it help preserve the abilities that matter to you?
What one NMN study showed
NMN, or nicotinamide mononucleotide, helps make NAD+, a molecule involved in cellular energy processes. A ten-week placebo-controlled trial studied 25 postmenopausal women with prediabetes and overweight or obesity. NMN improved muscle responsiveness to insulin. This finding cannot establish life extension or a benefit for everyone.
Invest in function while evidence grows
Canadian movement guidance for adults aged 65 and older combines aerobic activity, strength work, balance activities and regular sleep. Goals need to fit a person’s health and abilities. Future longevity treatments should earn their place with meaningful human benefits and acceptable harms.
Read Evidence should change a decision for questions that help distinguish a promising biological finding from a meaningful clinical benefit.