Your body may be ageing faster than you think

Most people know exactly how old they are. But doctors say there is another age worth paying attention to, your biological age.

- SM Ayaz Zakir

Unlike the number on your identity card, this reflects how well your heart, muscles, metabolism and other vital systems are ageing.

The topic has gained fresh attention after Dubai announced the establishment of the Dubai Longevity Authority, an initiative aimed at positioning the emirate as a global hub for healthy ageing and preventive healthcare.

“Chronological age is simply the number of years we have lived. Biological age reflects how old our body truly feels and functions,” said Dr Rola Fayad, specialist in internal medicine at Burjeel Medical Center, Silicon Oasis.

“It’s influenced by our cells, metabolism, lifestyle, sleep, stress and overall health. Two people may be the same age on paper, but their bodies can be ageing at completely different speeds.”

Can your body really be older than you? According to doctors, the answer is yes.

Dr Fayad said the gap between a person’s chronological and biological age can sometimes be as much as 10 to 20 years.

“A healthy 40-year-old may biologically resemble someone in their early 30s, while another person of the same age with chronic inflammation, poor sleep or high visceral fat may have the biological age of someone in their 50s,” she said.