What is a biological age test? Experts talk benefits, risks of at-home testing

It’s important to understand what over-the-counter biological age test kits can — and can’t — do before buying them.

You may think you know how old you are, but your body doesn’t follow a calendar.

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That is, your chronological age, which measures how many years have passed since you were born, may not match your biological age, which reflects wear and tear on your body at a cellular level.

Based on factors including genetics, lifestyle habits and medical history, you may be biologically older or younger than your chronological age. That’s because these two measures don’t always progress at the same pace, according to Dr. Douglas Vaughan, director of the Potocsnak Longevity Institute at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine.