Longevity diagnostics guide
Biological age tests give you a number that may differ from your chronological age — but the methodology behind that number varies significantly. This guide compares TruDiagnostic, Elysium Index, GlycanAge, Iollo, and InsideTracker InnerAge by price, method, and what each score actually signals.
Price range
$95–$499
Methods covered
Epigenetic, Glycan, Metabolomic
Retesting
Annually recommended
Each card shows the methodology, price, retest cadence, and what the test is genuinely best suited for. Scores from different methodologies cannot be directly compared.
Most cited methodology — 3 different epigenetic clock algorithms. Best for longitudinal tracking.
Best for
Research-minded buyers wanting the most validated methodology
Pairs with Elysium's Basis NR supplement for before/after tracking. Single clock algorithm.
Best for
Elysium supplement users wanting to track changes
Measures glycans on IgG antibodies — different signal than DNA methylation, potentially more responsive to lifestyle changes.
Best for
Buyers who want a non-epigenetic biological age signal
Metabolite-based rather than methylation — newer methodology with less long-term validation but rich data output.
Best for
Users interested in metabolic health data beyond a single age score
Blood-biomarker-based age score — not epigenetic but more actionable since individual markers can be improved.
Best for
Users who want an age score tied to improvable blood biomarkers
Three distinct methodologies produce three different signals. Understanding the difference is more useful than comparing scores across platforms.
Epigenetic tests read methylation patterns on your DNA — chemical tags that change with age. Algorithms like Horvath, PhenoAge, and DunedinPACE were trained on large cohorts and correlate with mortality risk in research settings. TruDiagnostic runs all three; Elysium runs one. These scores move slowly and are harder to shift with short-term lifestyle changes.
InsideTracker's InnerAge is calculated from standard blood markers — glucose, hsCRP, ferritin, and others. Because each marker can be individually addressed through diet, exercise, or supplementation, this score is more actionable in the short term. It is not epigenetic and measures a different dimension of health than methylation clocks.
GlycanAge measures sugar chains on IgG antibodies — a proxy for chronic inflammation that appears to respond more quickly to lifestyle changes than epigenetic clocks. Iollo uses metabolomics, profiling 700+ metabolites. Both are emerging methodologies with less long-term validation than the Horvath-generation epigenetic clocks but may capture signals the others miss.
Four things that should inform which test you buy — and whether you should buy one at all.
Answers focused on methodology, pricing, and how to use the results — not medical advice.
TruDiagnostic uses the most peer-reviewed epigenetic clock methodology (Horvath, DunedinPACE, and others), making it the most academically cited consumer option. However 'accuracy' depends on what you're measuring — epigenetic clocks measure one signal, glycan panels another.
Most tests range from $299 to $499 per test. InsideTracker's InnerAge score comes bundled with a broader blood panel ($299–$699). Retesting annually typically costs the same as the initial test.
Blood-biomarker-based scores like InsideTracker InnerAge are more responsive to lifestyle changes in the short term. Epigenetic clock scores tend to move more slowly and are harder to shift. Both respond to sustained diet, exercise, sleep, and stress management over 6–12 months.
No. Biological age tests are not covered by insurance or Medicare. HSA/FSA eligibility is plan-dependent and generally requires a medical diagnosis to qualify — most people pay out of pocket.
Annually is the most common recommendation. Testing more frequently with the same methodology gives a longitudinal trend that's more useful than a single data point.
Elysium vs TruDiagnostic
Head-to-head comparison of the two most popular epigenetic age tests.
Function Health vs InsideTracker
Compare two diagnostic membership platforms with biomarker age scores.
Best at-home blood tests
At-home lab panels for broader biomarker tracking.
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