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Interestingly, some animals—like certain tortoises, fish, and salamanders—defy this pattern. Their risk of death remains flat throughout their lives, effectively meaning they do not "age" in a statistical sense. Studying these species offers insights into potential mechanisms to mitigate human aging.
Measuring Biological Age
Central to longevity research is the concept of biological age, which seeks to quantify an individual's aging process based on cellular and physiological markers, as opposed to chronological age. While still developing, current methods include blood tests, grip strength measurement, and notably, epigenetic tests.