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Plain answers to common questions about DNA, health and aging. Written by Adriano De Marino, PhD, precision medicine analyst and founder of Helixir Genomics.

  1. Engraving of the ages of man as a staircase, from birth to 100.

    Healthspan vs lifespan: what is the difference?

    Lifespan counts all your years. Healthspan counts the years in good health. Worldwide the gap is about 9.6 years. In the United States it is about 12.4.Updated October 15, 2026
  2. A 103-year-old man on a park bench holding a one-year-old boy, 1922.

    What do people who live to 100 have in common?

    People who reach 100 mostly share habits: a plant-based diet, daily movement, close ties and a sense of purpose. Genes such as FOXO3 and APOE matter less.Updated October 15, 2026

  1. You have your raw DNA file. Now what?

    A 23andMe or AncestryDNA raw file covers about 0.02% of your DNA. Rare health variants in it are often false positives. You can look them up, use a free tool or order a whole-genome test.Updated October 15, 2026

  2. What can your DNA tell you about your health?

    A DNA test can show how you may respond to some medicines and which health checks may be worth starting earlier. It can also show conditions you could pass on to a child. It does not diagnose disease.Updated October 15, 2026

  3. Are at-home DNA health tests accurate?

    At-home tests identify common markers well. Rare health variants in raw data are often false positives. An array tests about 0.02% of your DNA.Updated October 15, 2026

  4. What is biological age?

    Biological age is an estimate of how much your body has aged, usually from an epigenetic clock. A DNA sequence test does not give you one.Updated October 15, 2026

  5. Is a longevity DNA test worth it?

    Worth it if you will act on the results: how you handle medicines, what you could pass on to a child, and rare variants with a clear next step. No DNA test can tell you how long you will live.Updated October 30, 2026

  6. Can a DNA test tell you how long you'll live?

    No. Estimates of how much of lifespan is inherited range from under 10 to over 50 percent, depending on the method. A DNA test can show some of your risks. No test can give you a lifespan.Updated October 30, 2026

Test once. Keep it for life.

Your DNA stays the same all your life. Adriano De Marino, PhD, reviews every report.

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