Guide · Reference
Longevity biomarker guide
A reference guide to the blood tests and body measurements most relevant to healthy ageing, grouped by health area, with links to detailed explanations.
Written by LON6EVITY Editorial Team · Last updated
How to use this guide
No single marker predicts how long or how well you will live. This guide groups the measurements most closely tied to the conditions that drive illness in later life, so you can see what each area covers. Each marker has its own page with sources.
Cardiovascular
ApoB, LDL cholesterol, non-HDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, triglycerides and lipoprotein(a) describe the particles behind atherosclerosis. hs-CRP adds information about inflammation. Blood pressure is measured outside the lab and matters just as much.
Metabolic
Fasting glucose, HbA1c, fasting insulin and HOMA-IR describe blood sugar control and insulin resistance. Waist circumference complements them.
Kidney and liver
eGFR from creatinine (with cystatin C where available) and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio cover kidney health. ALT, AST, GGT, ALP, bilirubin and albumin cover the liver.
Blood, iron, thyroid and vitamins
A complete blood count, ferritin and transferrin saturation, TSH and free T4, vitamin D, vitamin B12 and folate help detect common, treatable problems.
Beyond blood tests
Cardiorespiratory fitness (VO2 max), muscle strength, resting heart rate, sleep and body composition are strongly linked to healthy ageing and can be tracked over time. See the Health metrics guide.
Factors that can affect the result
- Trend over time
- Laboratory method
- Individual risk profile
Questions people commonly ask
- Which tests should I get?
- It depends on your age, history and risk factors. Use this guide to prepare questions for your clinician, not as a test order.
- How is this different from the longevity blood tests page?
- The longevity blood tests page explains why these tests matter; this guide is a structured reference to every marker page.
Related biomarkers
Related topics
Build your longevity profile
What does this mean for your own health data? Log your results, follow trends over time and bring an organised summary to your next doctor's appointment.
Sources
- Noncommunicable diseases — fact sheet. World Health Organization.
- Metabolic Syndrome. National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NIH).
- Chronic Kidney Disease Tests & Diagnosis. National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIH).
- Importance of Assessing Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Clinical Practice: A Case for Fitness as a Clinical Vital Sign. Ross R et al., American Heart Association, Circulation, 2016.