What’s Your ‘Biological Age’?

You may know how many years you’ve been alive, but some doctors are now more interested in ‘biological aging’ – the physical decline that comes with age – a process that actually happens at different rates in different parts of the body in different people. To certain extent it’s under our control through lifestyle choices. What’s your ‘biological age’? Check out;

• Balance:
Stand on your left leg with your right leg bent behind you, your hands on your hips and your eyes closed. Time how long you last before losing your balance.
Scoring:
70 plus seconds, biological age in the 20s; 60-69 seconds in the 30s; 50-59 seconds in the 40s; 40-49 seconds in the 50s; 30-39 seconds in the 60s; 20-29 seconds in the 70s; under 20 seconds in 80s.

• Reaction:
Ask a friend to hold a ruler 45 cm above the thumb and forefinger of your writing hand. When he drops it, measure how far it falls before you catch it.
Scoring:
Under 15 cm, age in the 20s; 15-24 cm in the 30s; 25-29 cm in the 40s; 30-35 cm in the 50s; over 40 cm 60s and above.

• Skin elasticity:
Pinch up as much skin on the back of your hand as you can. Then release it and time how long it takes to lie flat again.
Scoring:
Less than 1 second, age in the 20s; 1-2 seconds in the 30s; 3-4 seconds in the 40s; 5-10 seconds in the 50s; 11-30 seconds in the 60s; 31-45 seconds in the 70s; 46 plus seconds in the 80s.

• Mental ability:
Count backwards from 100 in sevens or sixes: 100, 93, 86 or 100, 94, 88, etc. time how long it takes to get down to zero.
Scoring:
If you are below 40, you should manage it in less than 20 seconds; 40-60 years under 25 seconds.