The longevity glossary
Evidence-based explanations of every biomarker, score, and concept we use — written by clinicians, free to read, and updated quarterly.
Biological Age
A multi-marker estimate of how old your body actually is — versus your birth date.
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hsCRP (High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein)
The most widely used blood marker of low-grade systemic inflammation.
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ApoB (Apolipoprotein B)
A direct count of atherogenic particles — a better cardiovascular risk marker than LDL-C alone.
Read articleHbA1c
A 3-month average of your blood glucose, measured via glycated hemoglobin.
Read articleHOMA-IR (Insulin Resistance)
A calculation from fasting glucose and insulin that estimates insulin sensitivity.
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VO₂ Max
The single strongest predictor of all-cause mortality you can train.
Read articleGrip Strength
A simple proxy for total-body strength and a robust predictor of healthspan.
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Vitamin D (25-OH)
A steroid hormone precursor critical for immunity, bone health, and mood.
Read articleOmega-3 Index
The percentage of EPA + DHA in your red blood cell membranes.
Read articleFerritin
The body's iron storage protein — and a sneaky inflammation marker.
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Testosterone (Total & Free)
The primary anabolic hormone in men and a key driver of vitality in both sexes.
Read articleTSH (Thyroid-Stimulating Hormone)
The pituitary signal that regulates your thyroid — and your metabolism.
Read articleHomocysteine
An amino acid that, when elevated, predicts cardiovascular and cognitive decline.
Read articleLp(a) — Lipoprotein(a)
A genetically-determined cardiovascular risk factor most people never get tested for.
Read articleTelomere Length
Protective DNA caps that shorten with age and chronic stress.
Read articleEpigenetic Clock
DNA methylation-based estimates of biological age (Horvath, Hannum, GrimAge, DunedinPACE).
Read articleFasting Insulin
An early-warning marker of metabolic dysfunction — often abnormal years before glucose.
Read articleZone 2 Training
Low-intensity aerobic work that builds mitochondrial density and fat oxidation.
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Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM)
A wearable sensor that tracks your blood glucose in real time, 24/7.
Read articleFull-Body MRI
Radiation-free whole-body screening for early signs of cancer, aneurysms, and organ disease.
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Protein Target (1.6–2.2 g/kg)
The evidence-based daily protein intake to preserve muscle and metabolic health as you age.
Read articleLeucine Threshold
The ~2.5–3 g of leucine per meal that triggers muscle protein synthesis.
Read articleDietary Fiber (30–50 g/day)
The single most under-consumed nutrient — and one of the highest-leverage longevity inputs.
Read articleOmega-3 to Omega-6 Ratio
A dietary balance that shifts your inflammatory tone.
Read articlePolyphenols
Plant compounds that activate longevity pathways like AMPK and sirtuins.
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Mediterranean Diet
The most evidence-based dietary pattern for longevity and cardiovascular health.
Read articleTime-Restricted Eating (TRE)
Compressing your eating window — typically to 8–10 hours — to align with circadian biology.
Read articleLow-Carb & Ketogenic Diets
Carbohydrate restriction strategies that improve glycemic control and may support specific clinical goals.
Read articleUltra-Processed Food (UPF)
Industrial formulations engineered for hyper-palatability — and the largest dietary risk factor most people ignore.
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Magnesium
An essential mineral involved in 300+ enzymatic reactions — and chronically under-consumed.
Read articleCreatine Monohydrate
The most-studied performance supplement — with growing evidence for cognitive and longevity benefits.
Read articleEPA & DHA (Fish Oil)
The two omega-3 fatty acids that drive cardiovascular and cognitive longevity benefits.
Read articleBerberine
A plant alkaloid with metformin-like effects on glucose and lipid metabolism.
Read articleCaloric Restriction (CR)
A modest, sustained reduction in calorie intake — the most consistent longevity intervention across species.
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Sleep Architecture
The nightly pattern of light, deep, and REM sleep cycles — and why the shape matters more than the total.
Read articleDeep Sleep (Slow-Wave Sleep)
The restorative stage that drives growth hormone release and brain waste clearance.
Read articleREM Sleep
The dreaming stage that consolidates memory, emotion, and procedural learning.
Read articleCircadian Rhythm
The ~24-hour internal clock that sets sleep timing, hormones, and metabolism.
Read articleSleep Debt & Social Jetlag
Accumulated short nights and shifting weekend schedules that quietly degrade metabolic health.
Read articleObstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA)
Repeated overnight airway collapse — common, widely undiagnosed, and a major driver of cardiovascular risk.
Read articleOvernight HRV & Resting Heart Rate
Two wearable metrics that reveal how well your nervous system recovers while you sleep.
Read articleCore Temperature & Sleep Onset
Falling core body temperature is the physiological trigger for sleep — and the easiest lever to pull.
Read articleCaffeine Half-Life & Sleep
Caffeine's 5–6 hour half-life means an afternoon coffee is still active at bedtime.
Read articleMelatonin
A timing hormone, not a sedative — best used at low doses for circadian shifts.
Read articleSleep & Nutrition Interaction
What and when you eat changes how you sleep — and short sleep changes what you eat.
Read articleResistant Starch
Starch that escapes digestion and feeds the gut microbiome like fiber.
Read articleMeal Sequencing
Eating vegetables and protein before carbohydrate blunts the glucose spike from the same meal.
Read articleSodium-to-Potassium Ratio
The balance between the two minerals predicts blood pressure better than sodium alone.
Read articleProtein Distribution Across the Day
Spreading protein evenly beats back-loading it into one large dinner.
Read articleHydration & Electrolytes
Chronic mild dehydration is common in hot climates and shows up in biomarker panels.
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STI Screening
Routine testing for sexually transmitted infections — the only reliable way to know your status, because most infections are silent.
Read articleWindow Period
The gap between exposure and the point a test can reliably detect an infection — the single most misunderstood part of STI testing.
Read articleChlamydia
The most commonly diagnosed bacterial STI worldwide, usually symptom-free, and fully curable with antibiotics.
Read articleGonorrhoea
A common bacterial STI that increasingly resists antibiotics, making accurate testing and correct treatment important.
Read articleHIV Testing
Fourth-generation antigen/antibody tests detect HIV within weeks, and early detection now means a near-normal life expectancy.
Read articleSyphilis
An ancient bacterial infection that is resurging globally, easy to cure early, and serious when missed.
Read articleGenital Herpes (HSV-1 & HSV-2)
A very common lifelong viral infection that is manageable with antivirals and far less dramatic than its reputation.
Read articleHPV & Genital Warts
The most widespread STI on earth — mostly harmless and self-clearing, but a small number of strains cause cancer.
Read articleHepatitis B & C
Blood-borne viruses that can be sexually transmitted, run silently for decades, and now have vaccine and cure options.
Read articleTrichomoniasis
The most common curable parasitic STI, frequently missed because standard panels do not always include it.
Read articlePCR / NAAT Testing
Nucleic acid amplification — the technology that made accurate, urine-based STI testing possible.
Read articleSTI Risk Reduction
What actually lowers transmission risk, ranked by the strength of the evidence behind each measure.
Read articleConfidential Sexual Health Testing in the UAE
How private STI testing works in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, and what to check before booking a clinic.
Read articleSee your numbers, not just the definitions.
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