Blog

MAY 2025 TABLEHOPPING

Last month I wrote about a test called the glycan-age that purportedly tells you how old you “really are” Your biological age versus your chronological age. The test I offer my patients is a version of the Levine Horvath clock but uses 7 common lab tests to give you some insight. Both require blood samples but the test I offer is much less expensive. The Glycan age test costs about $500 and the one I offer is just done at the price of an office call. Whatever you would pay to come in for a sore throat or headache. This doesn’t include the cost of the blood tests but they are usually covered by your insurance. You could go through your labs, input the values yourself into the calculator and skip the office visit to make it even cheaper…The nice thing about our calculator is that it shows you which of your blood tests is responsible for the estimation so you can see where to focus your efforts. But, and it’s a big But, is it accurate? That’s why I check out these more expensive tests especially before I could recommend any to my patients. So, last month I did the glycan-age test and this month I did one of the competitors offered by Gary Brecka who is well known as a prominent “biohacker”.

Mr Brecka ’s claim to fame is that he worked in the insurance business evaluating lab tests etc to determine life expectancy. He understood that certain blood tests and patterns can readily predict your mortality. He says there are 5 “actionable” genes which can be measured for the cost of again around $600. Now Mr Brecka is also a fan of energy mats, hydration, hydrogen water, supplementation,etc and has a whole program called 10X health system. He focuses on the fact that different genetic variations in methylation ( a very common metabolic process in every cell of the body) determine your health more than other factors. These methylation issues cause nutritional deficiencies that are the real cause for depression, chronic pain, digestive issues etc.

So, I will have three tests that are supposed to give me more information than the standard blood tests. I have been looking into NAD infusions and there is one company that measures NAD in blood samples so I can test my level…try some supplements or NAD directly and see how it affects my levels. This company too says they have other testing that measures inflammation so the odyssey continues.

Let’s see how these tests correlate with each other. I get plenty of exercise and my diet is much cleaner than most people but you don’t know what you don’t know. Is my hip achy due to overuse or inflammation from my diet? There is a growing body of literature that says inflammation in your mouth affects every part of your body. My gums are not the issue…I don’t have obviously rotten teeth but I have several root canals and my research says root canals always have pockets of infection ..little pockets that may be painless but a persistent source of inflammation. I strongly recommend against root canals now but I dread the thought that I have to have those dead teeth removed and have implants put in.

It’s May and that means getting back to walking with my patients at the Erie Canal Park at 5: 30 pm every Tuesday. We meet at the Reed Webster Park and head out for a walk. It’s usually about 2 miles but there are plenty of benches and we stop in the middle. Why not get out of the house and join us? If you want to walk and or talk this is a great opportunity. All of you who think I am wrong about fluoridation or immunization can come and have it out with me. I enjoy a lively debate and am happy to admit my errors and mistakes to everyone but my wife.

Until next month ….Get well and stay well

JT BARRY MD