Aging can be assessed in different ways, but not all aging measurements answer the same question.
Epigenetic clocks estimate how old a biological system appears to be.
Argeron BioAgeCheck® measures how fast biological aging is progressing.
This distinction is critical for clinical relevance and decision-making.
Epigenetic clocks are based on DNA methylation patterns that correlate statistically with chronological age.
They provide:
Epigenetic clocks answer the question:
"How old does this biology look right now?"
BioAgeCheck® is a patented LC-MS diagnostic kit developed by Argeron Medical to measure biological aging rate.
It quantifies protein deamidation kinetics, a chemically irreversible process that accumulates progressively over time.
BioAgeCheck® answers a different question:
"How fast is this biology changing?"
Biological age and biological aging rate are often conflated, but they represent distinct dimensions:
Two individuals may have the same biological age but very different aging rates, leading to divergent future outcomes.
| Feature | Epigenetic Clocks | Argeron BioAgeCheck® |
|---|---|---|
| Primary output | Biological age | Biological aging rate |
| Biomolecular substrate | DNA | Protein |
| Molecular process | DNA methylation (context-sensitive) | Deamidation (irreversible) |
| Measurement type | Static, cross-sectional | Kinetic, longitudinal |
| Platform | NGS / microarray | LC-MS |
| Clinical independence | Often model-dependent | Works without AI |
| Longitudinal monitoring | Limited | Designed for it |
| Clinical actionability | Variable | High |
Protein deamidation represents cumulative molecular damage that cannot be reversed under physiological conditions.
This makes it particularly suitable for:
In contrast, DNA methylation patterns may fluctuate with:
Epigenetic clocks are powerful tools for:
Argeron BioAgeCheck® is designed for:
The two approaches are complementary, not mutually exclusive — but they serve different purposes.
In the Argeron BioAgeCheck® system:
This preserves transparency, reproducibility, and clinical trust.
Age is a snapshot.
Aging rate is a trajectory.
Argeron BioAgeCheck® measures the trajectory.