Diagnostics Comparison
Not all aging tests are created equal. Epigenetic clocks, proteomic panels, and consumer wearables measure fundamentally different things at different levels of scientific rigor.
| Diagnostic | Company | Category | Evidence Score | Price Range | Key Limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| VO2 Max (CPET) | Exercise physiology labs | functional | 9.5 | $150-400 | Requires specialized lab. Consumer estimates (Apple Watch, Garmin) are rough proxies, not… |
| TruAge / DunedinPACE | TruDiagnostic | epigenetic clock | 9.0 | $229-499 | Single time point; requires repeat testing to track change. Blood draw required. |
| DXA (DEXA) Scan | Various clinics | functional | 9.0 | $75-300 | Radiation exposure (minimal). Requires clinical facility. Snapshot, not continuous. |
| Grip Strength Dynamometer | Various ($30 device) | functional | 9.0 | $10-50 | Single functional measure. Does not explain why strength is declining. Best used alongside other… |
| GlycanAge | GlycanAge | glycomic | 7.0 | $299-499 | Measures inflammatory aging specifically, not comprehensive biological age. Fewer validation… |
| Intracellular NAD+ Test | Jinfiniti | blood panel | 6.5 | $149-299 | Single biomarker. NAD+ levels are not proven to predict health outcomes. Useful for tracking… |
| InnerAge 2.0 | InsideTracker | blood panel | 6.0 | $199-589 | Proprietary algorithm not peer-reviewed. Biological age estimate lacks validation against hard… |
| Hume Band / Body Pod | Hume Health | wearable | 3.5 | $229-249 | Zero peer-reviewed publications. Proprietary algorithms. Accuracy claims internally inconsistent.… |
The Measurement Hierarchy
A $30 grip dynamometer predicts mortality comparably to a $3,000 epigenetic clock test (PURE study, n=139,691). The most expensive test is not always the most informative. Our evidence scores reflect published validation data, not price or marketing sophistication.