Page 59 - TA Magazine Winter 2022

Black Cut-Out Coverup by RICK OWENS, How your DNA can impact your workout, BY DR. JOSEPH RAFFAELE
Amaya Black Crop Top by DEVON WINDSOR,
Underwear by REEBOK, internal versus
TURBOWPN Sneakers by CONVERSE
external wellness

What makes you uniquely you, and can it be transformed?
It’s written in your genes, but probably not how you would think.

One could arguably say that your genome, the complete set of im-
mutable genetic instructions made up of the DNA found in every
cell, is uniquely yours. In fact, even identical twins who start out
as one embryo may develop slight differences in their genome soon
after dividing into two.
mechanisms that cells use to control gene
How, what, and when your genes are expressed dramatically af- expression. In my practice, we use the
fects the behavior and function of every cell in your body. For most advanced epigenetic test company
instance, how your genes express has an impact on your state of to assess physiological aging through the
22 health, your sense of well-being, and even your appearance. The eyes of the epigenome. 22
Y ANDERSON WINTER 20 changing its sequence. These epigenetic markers direct your DNA a test called the Pace of Aging that looks Y ANDERSON WINTER 20
answer to why some people look, act, and feel 10 years younger
(or older!) than they are is due in large part to their epigenomes.
The suite of blood-based tests evaluates
1 Fitzgerald KN, Hodges R, Hanes D, Stack E, Cheishvili D, Szyf M, et al. Potential reversal of epigenetic age using a diet
time to describe your intrinsic and im-
mune system aging. Uniquely, it also has
consists of chemical compounds that attach to your DNA without
54 Your epigenome, ‘epi-’ from the Greek word meaning ‘above,’ epigenetic markers accumulated over 55
at epigenetic changes occurring in a dy-
to turn genes on or off depending on the cell type needed during
and lifestyle intervention: a pilot randomized clinical trial. Aging (Albany NY). 2021 Apr 12;13(7):9419–32.
development, or in response to the environment. It’s this very pro-
namic fashion and describes your years
nose, and also guides your cells in adapting to what you put in
cise moment your blood sample is tak-
en. This is like having a needle-moving
your body, changes in your environment, or your behavior.
C cess that distinguishes the cells of your toes from the cells of your of biological aging, per year, at the pre- C
TRA speedometer of aging. Knowing your TRA
If you think of DNA as notes on a page of music and the body’s rate of aging allows you to compare
cells as instruments in an orchestra, then epigenetics is the way your past history from current influenc-
the conductor directs the orchestra to play. Imagine how the es which are regulated in part by ongo-
music could be altered depending on what, when, and how an ing, modifiable lifestyle factors. This is
instrument is led by the conductor. Now consider how the con- important, up-to-the-minute feedback
ductor’s lifestyle might have a significant impact on how well she on steps you may have taken to improve
leads the orchestra: If she’s not getting enough sleep, drinking too your physical and mental health, or a re-
much alcohol, smoking, experiencing chronic stress, consuming minder that things are slipping.
inflammatory foods, not exercising, or living in an area with high
pollution rates, the sound of the symphony could be dramatically Studies have shown that reversing bad
altered. This change in the “music” is a result of how she lives and habits, and adding a few good ones like
is remembered in the body by the altered epigenome and remark- yoga and meditation, can have a quan-
ably can be passed down to her son or daughter. tifiable impact on the arrangement of
your epigenetic markers. Just this year,
These epigenetic markers are arranged in characteristic patterns a study showed that an 8-week program
and have been employed to gauge physiological age or epigenetic of lifestyle and dietary interventions ,
1
clocks. These DNA methylation clocks are named for one of the along with probiotics and phytonutri-
ents, can reverse aging by a remarkable
3.2 years as measured by an epigenetic
clock. You are truly the conductor of
your epigenome! TA