Your biology has an age.
Now you can measure it.
PhenoAge calculates your biological age from 9 standard blood biomarkers. Every EllaDx panel includes the full CMP and CBC with Differential - so your biological age is computed automatically from your results.
9
Biomarkers used in the PhenoAge calculation - all measured in your standard blood draw.
Levine et al., 2018
46,792
Adults in the NHANES validation cohort used to develop and stress-test the algorithm.
NHANES IV
11.5 yrs
Biological-age gap between the lowest and highest mortality-risk quartiles in the validation cohort.
Liu et al., 2018
Chronological age counts birthdays.
Biological age counts what actually matters.
PhenoAge is a validated biological age estimator developed by Dr. Morgan Levine at Yale in 2018. Unlike epigenetic clocks that require specialized DNA methylation assays, PhenoAge uses 9 routine blood biomarkers - all collected in a standard venous draw.
The algorithm was trained on 46,792 adults in the NHANES IV study and validated against all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, years of healthy life, and multi-morbidity. Individuals with a lower PhenoAge than their chronological age have dramatically better health outcomes across every measure studied.
“PhenoAge was significantly associated with all-cause mortality, cause-specific mortality, cancer incidence, disability, and morbidity - even after adjusting for chronological age.”
Levine ME et al. · Aging (Albany NY) · 2018
Standard markers.
Extraordinary signal.
Every biomarker in the PhenoAge calculation is measured by EllaDx as part of the standard CMP and CBC with Differential included with every panel - no extra tests required.
Albumin
CMPThe primary serum protein. Low albumin signals protein depletion and accelerated cellular aging.
Creatinine
CMPA waste product filtered by the kidneys. Elevation reflects kidney stress - a key organ of aging.
Glucose
CMPChronically elevated glucose drives glycation of proteins and accelerates metabolic aging.
Alkaline Phosphatase
CMPElevated ALP indicates liver or bone turnover stress, both hallmarks of aging physiology.
hs-CRP
CardioThe primary marker of systemic low-grade inflammation - now understood as a core aging mechanism.
Lymphocyte %
CBC DiffDeclining lymphocyte percentage signals immune senescence - the gradual exhaustion of immune surveillance.
MCV
CBC DiffLarge mean corpuscular volume can indicate B12 or folate depletion, common in aging populations.
RDW
CBC DiffHigh red cell distribution width reflects variability from nutritional stress and oxidative damage.
WBC
CBC DiffElevated white blood cell count indicates ongoing chronic low-grade inflammation.
A Gompertz mortality model
translated into years.
The algorithm converts your 9 biomarkers into a mortality score via a weighted linear combination. That score is mapped onto a Gompertz survival function - the same model used in actuarial science to describe aging-related mortality - then inverted to produce your biological age in years.
A higher mortality score means the Gompertz curve places you at a steeper point on the aging trajectory, producing an older biological age. Every individual coefficient was validated in NHANES IV against prospective mortality outcomes.
- 01
Compute mortality score
Each biomarker is multiplied by its validated coefficient and summed with the model intercept.
- 02
Apply Gompertz transform
The score is converted to a 10-year mortality probability via the Gompertz survival function.
- 03
Invert to biological age
The mortality probability is inverted back to produce your biological age as a number of years.
PhenoAge Formula - Levine et al. 2018
PhenoAge = 141.50 + ln(−0.00553 × ln(1 − eˢ)) / 0.0553 where s (mortality score) = −19.907 − 0.0336 × albumin (g/dL) + 0.0095 × creatinine (μmol/L) + 0.1953 × glucose (mmol/L) + 0.0954 × ln(CRP) (mg/dL) − 0.0120 × lymphocyte (%) + 0.0268 × MCV (fL) + 0.3306 × RDW (%) + 0.00188 × ALP (U/L) + 0.0554 × WBC (10³/μL)
Coefficients from Levine ME et al., Aging (Albany NY), 2018. Validated in NHANES IV (n = 46,792).
−5 yrs
Biologically younger
A PhenoAge 5 years below your chronological age is associated with significantly lower all-cause mortality, reduced risk of age-related disease, and a longer healthspan. Even a 1-year reduction is meaningful at population scale - and all 9 biomarkers respond to intervention.
+5 yrs
Biologically older
A PhenoAge above your chronological age signals that measurable physiological processes are advancing faster than your years. The good news: every biomarker in the formula is modifiable through targeted nutrition, exercise, and sleep optimization.
PhenoAge is a population-level statistical estimate, not a clinical diagnosis. It provides a meaningful signal for tracking the direction of your biological aging and the impact of lifestyle changes over time. Results should always be discussed with a qualified healthcare provider.
- [1]
Levine ME et al. An epigenetic biomarker of aging for lifespan and healthspan.
Aging (Albany NY), 2018. doi:10.18632/aging.101414
- [2]
Liu Z et al. A new aging measure captures morbidity and mortality risk across diverse subpopulations from NHANES IV.
J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci, 2018. doi:10.1093/gerona/gly025
- [3]
Belsky DW et al. Quantification of biological aging in young adults.
PNAS, 2015. doi:10.1073/pnas.1506264112
- [4]
López-Otín C et al. The hallmarks of aging.
Cell, 2013. doi:10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.039
Every EllaDx report links to the primary literature behind each biomarker's optimal range. See all citations →