The assessment of biological age: a report from the Department of Environment Study

Indicators of ageing were measured in 397 male and 130 female London Civil Servants aged from 37 to 58 years of age. Grey hair, skin inelasticity, and arcus senilis were strongly and independently related to chronological age. Also independently related were serum albumin (negatively related in both sexes), baldness, serum creatinine, systolic blood pressure, serum calcium (negatively) and ESR in men, and serum cholesterol in women. Chronological age was regressed on the above variables for men and women separately to provide regression equations. Biological age for an individual was calculated by entering his or her results and calculating the residuals. Biological age in those who stopped smoking tended to be younger than chronological age by an average of 12-13 months in men and 1-4 months in women. Men and women who had never smoked had higher biological than actual ages but not after adjusting for regression dilution bias. Men who currently smoked had higher biological ages of 2-3 months but not women smokers (4-6 months lower). Similarly, men of lower employment grades had an average biological age 13 months older and women 8 months, compared with higher employment grades. These differences between employment grade appeared to be due to ESR, arcus senilis, systolic blood pressure and serum cholesterol. These four measurements may be markers of biological rather than chronological age, and the value of attempting to measure biological age is discussed.