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Slowing down decay: biological clocks in personalized medicine
Clémence Pinel1, Sara Green2, Mette N Svendsen1
1Centre for Medical Science and Technology Studies, Department of Public Health, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark.
Frontiers in Sociology
|May 4, 2023
Summary
Biological clocks measure true biological age using aging biomarkers. Commercialization shifts focus from internal decay to lifestyle, making individuals responsible for managing aging.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Science
- Sociology of Science and Technology
Background:
- Biological clocks assess biological age against chronological age using aging biomarkers.
- These technologies trace molecular changes to monitor aging processes.
Purpose of the Study:
- Analyze the implications of biological clock development and commercialization.
- Examine how these clocks frame and address the concept of biological decay.
Main Methods:
- Ethnographic fieldwork in an academic laboratory and a commercial firm.
- Analysis of the conceptualization and application of aging biomarkers.
Main Results:
- Biological clock development shifts focus from internal decay to lifestyle-driven "exo-processes."
- Commercialization transforms aging from an inevitable decline to a malleable process.
- Individuals are increasingly held responsible for managing their biological age through lifestyle interventions.
Conclusions:
- Biological clocks reframe aging as a lifelong concern requiring constant maintenance.
- The commercialization of biological clocks has normative implications, promoting intervention in the aging process.
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