Verbatim response from Claude
Key Blood Biomarkers for Longevity
Here are the ones with strongest evidence:
Metabolic Health
- Fasting glucose & insulin - elevated levels accelerate aging
- HbA1c - 3-month blood sugar average; keep below 5.5%
- Triglycerides/HDL ratio - strong cardiovascular predictor
- hsCRP - inflammation marker; lower is better
Hormonal
- IGF-1 - growth signaling; moderate levels seem optimal
- Thyroid (TSH, Free T3/T4) - affects nearly every system
- Testosterone/estrogen - muscle preservation, cognitive health
Organ Function
- ApoB - better cardiovascular risk marker than standard LDL
- Homocysteine - cardiovascular and cognitive risk
- ALT/AST - liver health
- Creatinine/eGFR - kidney function
Nutritional
- Vitamin D - aim for 40-60 ng/mL
- Omega-3 index - target above 8%
- Ferritin - iron storage (both high and low are problematic)
Where to Get Tested
- Function Health - comprehensive panel, physician-reviewed
- InsideTracker - includes personalized recommendations
- Marek Health - good for hormone optimization focus
- Your primary care doctor - can order most of these
ApoB and fasting insulin are probably the two most underordered but high-value tests if you're prioritizing.
Want detail on any specific marker?