The first quarter of 2024 continues to be a historic one for Rejuve.AI. As we diligently work on the milestones of our official roadmap for this year, we've also been making significant moves within the longevity scene.
Following our new partnership announcement with Peptide Bioregulator, improving access to high-quality peptides for our vibrant Rejuve Community of longevity enthusiasts, we have more exciting news.
Today, we're spotlighting an existing partnership with one of the most impactful players in the longevity industry: GlycanAge.
We've always been proud to count GlycanAge among the first partners and believers in our mission. Now, we're even prouder to share that GlycanAge's online store has officially added support for our RJV token, allowing holders to pay for the company's insightful biological age tests using RJV.
GlycanAge: A Pioneer of Biological Age Testing
Since its inception in 2016, GlycanAge has positioned itself at the forefront of longevity science, developing the world's first commercial glycan-based biological age test. This innovative measure offers a glimpse into your health that goes beyond your mere calendar age, providing a more accurate representation of biological aging.
The foundation of GlycanAge is built on over three decades of rigorous research, evidenced by more than 200 peer-reviewed publications. With a robust database of 200,000 samples from worldwide biobanks, GlycanAge stands out for its comprehensive analysis across various ages, genders, and ethnicities.
GlycanAge's commitment to research excellence is further highlighted by its collaborations with leading academic giants, including Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins University, and the University of Cambridge. These partnerships have propelled GlycanAge to the pinnacle of glycome research.
The test's clinical and commercial achievements are equally impressive, becoming a staple in longevity clinics all around the world due to its reliable results. Even Hollywood superstar Halle Berry has acknowledged its value, featuring GlycanAge on her social media as a recommended wellness product. This endorsement not only underscores the test's impact but also signals the growing mainstream growth of glycans in health and wellness conversations.
What Are Glycans?
Glycans, complex carbohydrates, are among the essential building blocks of biology along with nucleic acids, proteins, and lipids. Like tiny sugar decorations, all cells in existence are covered in a thick layer of glycans. So in a sense, you could say that all of us are sugar-coated.
You might not have heard much about glycans or glycobiology before, but you’re definitely familiar with blood types: A, B, AB, and O. The difference between them? It's all about the type of glycan (or lack thereof in the case of type O) on the surface of our red blood cells. This discovery, which earned Dr. Karl Landsteiner a Nobel Prize back in 1930, was a game-changer for medicine. It showed us how unique each person is and paved the way for personalized medicine as we know it today.
Glycans are pivotal in numerous biological functions, including within the immune system where they attach to antibodies, granting them critical structural and functional attributes.
GlycanAge focuses on the glycans found on a specific type of antibody called IgG, the most common kind in our body. The attachment patterns of glycans on these IgG vary significantly from person to person and even within the same individual across the lifespan based on both genetics and environmental influences — including aging.
Glycans and Aging
Aging is a complex process that involves numerous biological changes. As we just mentioned, one of the most intriguing changes occurs in our IgG’s glycan composition.
Research has shown that the combination of these changes can explain up to 58% of variance in chronological age [1]. That is, the levels of these IgG glycans change in a predictable way as we age, and these changes are consistent enough that they can be used as a biomarker to estimate a person’s chronological age with a reasonable degree of accuracy.
What’s the culprit in play here? Inflammation.
Interestingly, even slight changes in IgG glycans can shift the antibody's status from anti-inflammatory to pro-inflammatory. While inflammation is an essential biological process for defense and healing, the shift to a majority of pro-inflammatory IgG can precipitate chronic inflammation — a recognized hallmark of aging also sometimes called inflammaging.
In turn, this highlights the etiological implications of glycans in several age-related diseases. Indeed, the US National Academies concluded that “glycans are directly involved in the pathophysiology of every major disease”.
How Does GlycanAge’s Biological Age Test Work?
Luckily, GlycanAge test can detect warning signs of these diseases up to ten years before symptoms emerge. So, how do these tests work?
After ordering the test online, you’ll receive a finger prick test kit to collect a blood sample and ship it to the GlycanAge lab. Once your sample arrives there, the team conducts a thorough analysis of 29 different glycan structures on your IgG.
The resulting data is compared to a reference database to calculate your GlycanAge. This age reflects your biological age, which may of course differ from your chronological age. A higher GlycanAge indicates a higher level of chronic inflammation while a lower GlycanAge denotes a more favorable inflammatory profile.
The key here is that test results can guide your lifestyle modifications to reduce inflammation and potentially lower your biological age.
What Makes GlycanAge a Reliable Test of Biological Age?
GlycanAge is a reliable estimate of biological age as it fulfills the American Federation for Aging Research's criteria for an ideal biomarker of aging [2]:
It predicts the rate of aging and is a better predictor of life span than chronological age alone.
It monitors a basic process that underlies the aging process, not the manifestations of disease.
It can be tested repeatedly without harming a person or animal.
It’s responsive in both humans and animals.
Pragmatically, GlycanAge is also easy to measure via a simple blood test and can register changes over a short period, making it responsive to lifestyle modifications.
Looking Ahead
Now that you've seen the science and impact behind GlycanAge, we're excited to make it easier than ever for our Rejuve Community to get their hands on their GlycanAge kits — thanks to RJV token integration.
We're equally excited for our partners at GlycanAge to meet a new audience, one that's deeply passionate about health and always on the lookout for ways to optimize it.
This level of scientific prowess coupled with the decentralized nature of cryptocurrency paves the way for a truly boundless wellness ecosystem, putting control of our longevity right in our hands.
The Rejuve revolution is just getting started. So, you better make sure your biological age is optimized to enjoy it to the fullest!
Ready to take your first step towards understanding your biological age? Visit GlycanAge and get an exclusive 10% discount through this link now!
References:
[1] Krištić, J., Vučković, F., Menni, C., Klarić, L., Keser, T., Beceheli, I., Pučić-Baković, M., Novokmet, M., Mangino, M., Thaqi, K., Rudan, P., Novokmet, N., Šarac, J., Missoni, S., Kolčić, I., Polašek, O., Rudan, I., Campbell, H., Hayward, C., & Aulchenko, Y. (2013). Glycans Are a Novel Biomarker of Chronological and Biological Ages. The Journals of Gerontology: Series A, 69(7), 779–789. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glt190
[2] Le Couteur, D. G., Simpson, S. J., & de Cabo, R. (2013). Are Glycans the Holy Grail for Biomarkers of Aging? (Comment on: Glycans Are a Novel Biomarker of Chronological and Biological Age by Kristic et al.). The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences, 69(7), 777–778. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glt202