Verbatim response from Claude
Key Blood Biomarkers for Longevity
Tier 1: Most Evidence-Backed
Metabolic Health
- Fasting glucose & HbA1c - insulin resistance is a core aging driver
- Fasting insulin - often ignored but highly predictive
- Triglycerides & HDL ratio - better than total cholesterol alone
Inflammation
- hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein) - chronic inflammation marker
- IL-6 - stronger predictor than CRP in some studies
Organ Function
- ALT/AST - liver health
- eGFR/creatinine - kidney function
- CBC - catches anemia, immune issues
Tier 2: Increasingly Important
- ApoB - better LDL cardiovascular risk marker than standard LDL
- Lp(a) - genetic cardiovascular risk, test once
- Homocysteine - cardiovascular & cognitive risk
- IGF-1 - growth factor balance
- DHEA-S & testosterone - hormonal aging
Tier 3: Emerging
- GlycanAge or Dunedin Pace - biological age tests
- Omega-3 index
Recommended Services
- Function Health - comprehensive panels (~$500/year), Peter Attia-affiliated
- Inside Tracker - adds personalized recommendations
- LabCorp/Quest - affordable if ordered through a doctor
Start with Tier 1 before spending on advanced markers.