Please note that IM Health is discontinued and no longer available, we would recommend Bio Clip PLUS as an alternative.

IM Health

Aging is inevitable. It happens to us all. And trying to slow down the process so that we can live not only longer but healthier for longer is a goal that many of us set ourselves. But how do we know that the steps we take to live more healthily are actually extending our out lives, when aging itself is such a complex and highly individual process? To be able to really help ourselves it’s crucial to know how old we are biologically and not just chronologically.

This is where the I-M Health™ system comes in. By using the I-M Health™ Biological Age Measurement System, a software package that captures the results from clinical, blood and urine tests, various aspects of a person’s biological age can be determined. The system uses a broad health measurement approach, based on the analysis and interpretation of a wide range of physiological, biological and mental indicators from which a number of conclusions about the health of the individual can be drawn. Particular areas of concern with regard to aging are highlighted and a series of recommendations can be accessed to enable the individual to take the appropriate steps to improve their biological age in these areas.

What does the I-M Health™ system measure?

To assess biological age as opposed to chronological age, the I-M Health™ system measures a set of markers of aging, known as biomarkers. These biomarkers can be used to repeatedly measure the biological age and aging-rate of an adult. The subsequent derived IM-Health™ Score describes the age of a person relative to others, based on the evidence of appropriate research studies.

This should not be confused with those systems that purport to provide a patient’s overall biological age. Many researchers have indeed attempted to calculate biological age (sometimes called functional age) often by combining a large number of markers of aging in a multiple regression equation, in order to predict a result that is said to be a patient’s biological age. I-M Health™ has specifically chosen not to follow down this route due to the lack of an acceptable, agreed, consistent method amongst researchers. Instead, the I-M Health™ system calculates a biological age for each of the biomarkers, using appropriate ‘age-norm’ data.

Details of the methods employed by I-M Health™ to derive the appropriate biomarker curves, to obtain biological age calculations from the derived curves and to calculate an overall I-M Health™ score are all set out in the Biomarker Book supplied to all I-M Health™ system subscribers.

What are the biomarkers that are measured?

The battery of biological age measurement tests included in the I-M Health™ system covers a broad range of different aspects of a person’s health and well being. They encompass physical fitness, flexibility, cardiovascular (including hypertensive) health, cognitive health, clinical as well as biological tests, and even oxidative stress. The table below gives examples of the biomarkers tested, as well as the marker group to which they belong and the measurement method employed to assess them.

How do markers become biomarkers?

A strict set of criteria were applied to potential biomarkers and only if they met the exacting standards were they included within the I-M Health™ system as biomarkers. One of the basic parameters applied was that the tests themselves should already be in frequent use within the clinical environment.

Selection was also determined by the very nature of aging itself. Aging is not just one thing that can be looked at in isolation. Instead, it is a combination of a large number of physiological and biological changes that occur throughout adulthood that eventually lead to decreasing functional ability. It is this principle that guided I-M Health™ biomarker selection.

The initial selection of the biomarkers was based on the work of Dean (1988). He established a set of tests which correlated closely with chronological age, based on hypothesis that those traits which vary most closely with age are the best indicators of the aging process. These biomarkers were further qualified for analysis based upon criteria identified in the 1987 primate study at the National Institute on Aging.

The criteria used for inclusion as a biomarker are as follows:

1. There must be significant cross-sectional correlation with age

Biomarkers of aging variables should show a clear directional change (positive or negative slopes) during adulthood evidenced by cross-sectional study data. If a potential biomarker failed to meet this criteria and did not demonstrate a consistent positive or negative slope over time, it was not considered for inclusion as a biomarker within the system.

For example, Total Cholesterol for men was not included even though Total Cholesterol for women does appear as a biomarker. This was because, although Total Cholesterol levels in men increase to the age of 65, levels then begin to decline slightly. Given that the I-M Health™ analysis window represents the ages 30 through 70, this late decline in levels prevents Total Cholesterol for men from being included in the I-M Health™ programme. Total Cholesterol levels in women, on the other hand, begins to decline much later than in men which enables Total Cholesterol for women to be included as a valid biomarker of aging within the I-M Health™ programme.

When analysing the research data available it became clear that the majority of relevant studies were carried out on a cross sectional rather than longitudinal basis. Therefore, by basing biomarker data for inclusion into the I-M Health™ system on the evidence provided by cross-sectional studies rather than the results from longitudinal research projects, as many appropriate research studies as possible (and therefore as larger sample size as possible) could be included.

2. Significant longitudinal change in the same direction as the cross-sectional analysis

Even though biomarker data within the system is based upon cross-sectional research results, longitudinal research studies were also reviewed to identify those biomarkers that exhibited longitudinal change in the same direction as cross-sectional studies.

3. There must be significant stability of individual differences

The degree of stability of the ‘inter-year’ reference values was also reviewed in order to ensure that there was a high reliability correlation between the data from the preceding measurement period and the subsequent period across all age bands.

4. The biomarkers should have an effect on the functional ability of the individual.

Possibly the exception to this rule is hair greyness which is included as a biomarker. Whilst hair greyness does not make a significant contribution to the overall biological age determination of an individual, it is significantly correlated with age.

5. An individual’s biomarker test results should be the same or very similar if repeatedly measured over a short period of time.

Some possible biomarkers were precluded because of their failure to meet this criterion. Obviously to become a biomarker changes in levels must correlate closely with age over the passage of time. But levels should not vary if repeatedly measured over a much shorter period of time. For example melatonin was not included because, although plasma melatonin peak levels show a significant age related decline, plasma melatonin levels vary considerably throughout the day. This daily variation would present practical problems for gaining reliable peak value measurements.

6. A biomarker measurement test should be applicable to patients aged 30-70 and there must be the appropriate research papers available which provide reference data values across this age range.

7. Biomarker data values should be representative of general populations.

8. Biomarker tests must be non-invasive, relatively painless and not be dependent on the motivation of the subject.

9. Biomarker tests must be capable of being performed in a non-hospitalised environment and must not require long test timeframes.

Glomerular Filtration Rate (GFR) was precluded from inclusion on this point. Although GFR fits the profile of a biomarker in terms of relationship with age, the measurement methods are not appropriate for the standard clinical practice in terms of ability and time required to perform the test

10. Biomarker tests must not overly financially expensive to conduct.

Only if a potential biomarker passed all of these strict criteria was it included into the I-M Health™ test battery.

Why is repeat testing required?

In order to gain maximum benefit from the I-M Health™ age measurement system, it is important to firstly establish a set of baseline results for each individual. Subsequent testing sessions allow for a comparison of new results with the baseline results. This provides visible evidence of the rate of change and, where the appropriate measures have been taken, hopefully aging reversal. Repeated testing enables the patterns of differences between chronological age and the biological ages for a particular person to be determined, demonstrated and compared. If subsequent testing reveals a deviation from an expected result occurs, that change may be attributed to an aging effect.

Even though performing a battery of tests such as those within the I-M Health™ system is essential for determining the rates of aging for an individual and the success of any attempts to reverse these rates of change, the I-M Health™ system first and foremost provides the individual with an excellent, comprehensive health analysis. This is because not only does the I-M Health™ system focus on the biomarkers of aging but also allows for a whole series of health indicators to be recorded.

How do you use the I-M Health™ system?

The I-M Health™ system has been specifically designed to be a user friendly computer based system. No specific computing knowledge or skills are required. Patient details are entered into the system and a series of pages allow for comprehensive details of a patient’s health and lifestyle to be recorded (and reviewed and amended in the future where necessary).

The clinical tests have been selected and designed to be easily carried out in the comfort of a physician’s office. Results of the tests are simply entered into in the system and the I-M Health™ system calculates the I-M Health™ scores for the biomarkers.

Results of the tests pertaining to both biomarkers and health indicators can be displayed on screen, together with the I-M Health™ scores for the individual. Not only are results shown in list form but also via I-M Health’s™ own unique visualisation presentation, that provides users with an effective yet easy to understand view of their own I-M Health™ scores for each biomarker tested.

In the example below, at the time of testing the female patient’s chronological age was 42.3 years.

Each circle represents a biomarker, the key indicating the “age” of each biomarker result. By clicking on the each circle on the visualisation, the patient can find out not only which biomarker the circle represents, but also their results and their “age” in relation to that particular biomarker.

In the example below, a mouse-click over the mouth reveals the appropriate biomarker, the patient’s test result, the min/max range for the biomarker and finally the patient’s “age” in respect of the biomarker based on their test result.

At the end of each age measurement session, once all the results have been collated and the system has calculated the appropriate I-M Health™ scores, an I-M Health™ Results Report is available to the individual. This report provides a comprehensive review of the test results, including a visualisation, and results illustrated in bar format along with the relevant scientific sources.

Additional information available to the Physician

Not only can the I-M Health™ system display test results and calculate I-M Health™ scores, it also contains a wealth of information regarding possible advice that a physician may wish to give to a patient for any of the biomarkers and health indicators. By allowing easy and quick access to detailed information about each piece of possible advice, the physician is able to review, select and tailor advice for each particular patient.

As well as producing a Results Report, any advice and guidance that is given can be handed to the patient in the form of an Advice and Guidance Report. This report provides details regarding each piece of advice and guidance including, for example, where a particular supplement is recommended, a detailed description and dosage instructions.

Conclusion

Backed by scientific research to establish key biomarkers of aging and coupled with a stunning yet easy to understand graphical representation of aging markers and health indicators, the I-M Health™ system is set to give any practitioner or individual interested in anti-aging medicine a class leading tool to measure the rate of aging. This will allow individuals to meet their goals of not only living life for longer but living a longer life healthier than ever before.

For further information on IM Health please visit the IM Health site by clicking here.