You feel okay. Maybe even pretty good. You’ve got energy most days, and you’re doing your best to stay on top of work, sleep, movement, and what you eat. But there are moments, more than there used to be, when something feels off. You're a bit slower to recover, your skin looks tired even after a full night's sleep, and you find yourself rereading the same sentence three times because your brain won’t settle.
If that sounds familiar, it could be a signal that your biological age is outpacing your actual age.
The good news? Biological age isn’t fixed, and it doesn’t have to match your passport. But to do something about it, you first have to know what it is, how it works, and what the early signs of biological decline look like in the real world.
What is biological age, really?
Biological age is a measure of how well your body is functioning on a cellular and molecular level, as opposed to your chronological age, the number of candles on your birthday cake.
The concept has gained traction over the last decade, especially in longevity science. It’s based on the idea that ageing is not just a matter of time, but of damage: specifically, how much wear and tear your body accumulates through factors like oxidative stress, inflammation, DNA damage, mitochondrial decline, and epigenetic changes.
Key markers of biological age include:
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DNA methylation patterns: These change predictably as we age and can be used to estimate biological age through what's called an epigenetic clock.
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Telomere length: Telomeres protect the ends of chromosomes. They shorten with each cell division and are associated with ageing and disease risk.
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Mitochondrial function: Mitochondria are the energy engines of your cells. As they lose efficiency, you may feel more tired, and your body’s ability to repair itself diminishes.
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Inflammation and oxidative stress levels: Chronic, low-grade inflammation and excess free radicals can damage tissues over time.
Biological ageing is essentially the accumulation of dysfunction in these and other systems. You might be 35 on paper, but if your mitochondria are flagging, your DNA repair enzymes are underpowered, and your detox systems are overloaded, your body could be operating more like someone ten years older.
Early signs of biological decline
So how can you tell (without expensive testing) if your biological age is starting to outpace your actual age? These early signals often show up in subtle ways. They’re easy to ignore at first, but over time, they add up.
1. Low energy that doesn’t match your lifestyle
If you’re getting enough sleep but still waking up tired, it could be a sign your mitochondria, the parts of your cells that produce ATP (your body’s energy currency), aren’t keeping up. This is one of the most common and early signs of ageing on a cellular level.
Support tip: NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) is a precursor to NAD+, a molecule critical for mitochondrial energy production. Boosting NAD+ may help restore cellular energy and improve stamina over time.
2. Cognitive fog or forgetfulness
Your brain is one of the most energy-intensive organs in your body. If it’s not getting the metabolic support it needs, or if inflammation and oxidative stress are affecting neurons, you may notice lapses in concentration, mental fatigue, or slower processing.
Support tip: TMG (trimethylglycine) supports methylation, a key process involved in neurotransmitter balance and detoxification. Methylation can become strained as we age, especially when NAD+ levels rise, which is why TMG pairs well with NMN.
3. Slower recovery from physical or mental stress
Maybe it's muscle soreness lingering longer than usual or feeling wiped out after a mildly stressful day, but slower recovery is a classic sign that your repair systems aren’t working as efficiently. This can involve reduced antioxidant production, impaired protein synthesis, and even sluggish immune responses.
Support tip: Prioritise sleep, eat a nutrient-dense diet, and include compounds that support mitochondrial and cellular repair, like foods rich in polyphenols (e.g., green tea, blueberries).
4. Changes in skin tone, texture, and healing
Your skin is one of the most visible indicators of internal biological ageing. Collagen breakdown, reduced elasticity, and slower wound healing are all signs that cell turnover and structural support are starting to lag.
Support tip: Hydration, sun protection, and collagen peptides can all help. TMG also supports skin health indirectly by aiding methylation and reducing inflammation.
5. Sensitivity to stress
As cortisol regulation shifts with age, your response to stress may feel exaggerated, and your recovery slower. Feeling more irritable, anxious, or wired for longer than usual could indicate hormonal imbalance and reduced resilience in the nervous system.
Support tip: Supporting your stress response with breathwork, movement, and nutrients like magnesium or adaptogens can help.
6. Increased belly fat or insulin resistance
Midsection weight gain is often one of the first external signs of biological ageing, linked to mitochondrial dysfunction, insulin resistance, and hormonal shifts. Even with no changes in diet, this kind of fat accumulation can creep in and stick around.
Support tip: Consistent movement, protein intake, and fibre help regulate blood sugar and support metabolic health.
7. Ongoing low-grade inflammation
Joint stiffness, digestive sluggishness, recurring colds, or lingering muscle aches: these could all point to increased systemic inflammation, which accelerates ageing at the cellular level. Chronic inflammation is a key driver of biological ageing and has been linked to virtually every age-related disease.
Support tip: Focus on anti-inflammatory whole foods (e.g., flaxseed, turmeric, olive oil), and support your body’s detox and repair systems through gentle movement, hydration, and targeted supplementation.
Why NMN and TMG are relevant to biological age
Biological ageing accelerates when your body lacks the resources to repair, regenerate, and adapt. NMN and TMG are not miracle cures, but targeted support for the systems most impacted by ageing.
NMN fuels NAD+ production, which supports:
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Mitochondrial energy output
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DNA repair
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Healthy metabolism
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Sirtuin activity (linked to longevity)
TMG supports methylation, which influences:
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Detoxification
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Inflammation control
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DNA stability
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Hormonal balance
And because taking NMN increases the demand for methyl groups, pairing it with TMG helps ensure your body maintains methylation balance, especially over the long term. If you’re looking to actively support your biological age, Simply Nootropics Ageless NMN is formulated to help maintain healthy NAD+ levels, backing the core processes that keep your cells functioning at their best. When taken alongside our TMG, it offers targeted support for both energy production and methylation, two systems closely tied to how your body ages on a biological level. It’s a practical way to help your biology stay younger for longer.
