Verbatim response from Perplexity
The most useful blood biomarkers for longevity are the ones that predict future disease risk and physiologic decline, especially ApoB, Lp(a), HbA1c, fasting glucose/fasting insulin, triglycerides, and hs-CRP.[1][4][10][12][14]
In practical terms, the markers that “matter” most are:
- ApoB: best single blood marker for atherogenic particle burden and cardiovascular risk; several longevity-focused guides prioritize it over LDL-C.[4][12][14]
- Lp(a): largely genetic; high levels increase lifetime cardiovascular risk and are commonly recommended as a one-time or infrequent test.[1][4][12][14]
- HbA1c: reflects average blood sugar over 2–3 months and is consistently linked to healthspan and lifespan risk.[1][3][10][11]
- Fasting insulin: helps detect insulin resistance earlier than glucose alone and is repeatedly emphasized in longevity panels.[4][11][12][14]
- Fasting glucose: higher levels are associated with worse healthspan and lifespan outcomes.[10]
- Triglycerides: elevated levels track metabolic dysfunction and are linked to shorter healthspan.[10][11]
- hs-CRP: a marker of chronic low-grade inflammation, which is linked to cardiovascular and age-related disease risk.[1][7][10][14]
A few additional markers are useful, but more as supporting context than core longevity drivers:
- Creatinine / eGFR: kidney function; lower or preserved kidney function is associated with better aging outcomes.[5][6][12]
- ALT, AST, GGT: liver stress/metabolic health; higher values can signal higher risk.[5][6][12]
- Albumin: lower levels can reflect frailty, inflammation, or poor health status.[5][9]
- CBC markers like hemoglobin and RDW: can help identify anemia, inflammation, or broader physiologic stress.[9]
- Ferritin: can be useful, but it is nonspecific because it reflects iron status and inflammation.[11][12]
What is less settled is whether there is any single “true aging biomarker” that beats disease-risk markers in routine care. Research on proteomic or epigenetic aging markers such as GDF15, p16INK4a, and DNA methylation clocks is promising, but these are not yet as directly actionable for most people as cardiometabolic markers.[2][13][15]
If you want the shortest evidence-based answer: ApoB, Lp(a), HbA1c, fasting insulin, triglycerides, and hs-CRP are the most practical blood biomarkers to track for longevity.[1][4][10][12][14]
If you’d like, I can turn this into a minimal longevity lab panel with suggested testing frequency and what each result usually means.