How the Levine PhenoAge model works
Estimate Levine Phenotypic Age from chronological age and nine laboratory biomarkers using the published mortality-derived model.
This page provides an equation-based estimate for education and planning. It does not diagnose a condition, measure an individual response, or replace professional care.
How to use this health calculator
- Choose appropriate inputs: Enter measurements using the units and ranges shown.
- Review the assumptions: Confirm that the model applies before interpreting the result.
- Calculate and interpret: Read the result together with its limitations and cautions.
- Use professional guidance when needed: Do not use a general calculator to change medication, treatment, or a clinician-directed plan.
Formula and variables
US conventional albumin, creatinine and glucose inputs are converted to the units used by the equation. The model was developed from NHANES mortality associations; it is not an epigenetic clock or direct measurement of cellular aging.
xb = −19.90667 − 0.03359(albumin g/L) + 0.00951(creatinine μmol/L) + 0.19532(glucose mmol/L) + 0.09537 ln(CRP mg/L) − 0.012(lymphocyte %) + 0.02676(MCV) + 0.33062(RDW) + 0.00187(ALP) + 0.05542(WBC) + 0.08035(age); xb is then transformed to mortality risk and the PhenoAge scale- xb — Linear predictor
- Weighted combination of chronological age and nine biomarkers.
- CRP — C-reactive protein
- Must be above zero because the equation uses its natural logarithm.
- PhenoAge — Phenotypic Age
- Mortality-model output expressed on an age-like scale.
Worked example: complete laboratory panel
A 45-year-old enters the example values shown in the calculator using the specified units.
- Age
- 45 years
- Albumin
- 4.3 g/dL
- Creatinine
- 0.9 mg/dL
- Glucose
- 90 mg/dL
- CRP
- 1 mg/L
- Convert albumin to 43 g/L, creatinine to 79.56 μmol/L and glucose to about 5.0 mmol/L.
- Apply all ten terms to obtain xb, transform it to modeled mortality risk, then to the age scale.
Result: With the remaining displayed example biomarkers, PhenoAge is approximately 40.5 years.
The approximately −4.5-year difference is a statistical model output, not years removed from life or proof of reversed aging.
Understanding your results
Equation result
The numerical output follows the displayed formula and entered assumptions.
Personal interpretation
Individual biology, measurement error, environment, health conditions and medicines can change real-world outcomes.
Assumptions
- Every laboratory result belongs to the same person and uses the displayed unit.
- Values are entered accurately from a qualified laboratory report.
- The published NHANES-derived model is appropriate for educational reproduction.
Limitations
- The model predicts mortality-associated phenotype at a population level and does not measure a biological-age ground truth.
- Acute illness, inflammation, hydration, medicines, laboratory methods and timing can change biomarkers.
- Extreme but accepted inputs can produce counterintuitive results because terms are modeled linearly.
- A single result does not establish a trend, diagnosis, prognosis or treatment effect.
Common mistakes
- Confusing mg/dL, g/dL, mg/L, μmol/L or mmol/L.
- Entering zero CRP even though the logarithm is undefined.
- Mixing laboratory results from different dates or clinical circumstances.
- Changing treatment or supplements to optimize the score.
Practical use cases
Educational estimate
Explore how the inputs affect the equation result.
Consistent tracking
Compare estimates only when methods, units and conditions are consistent.
Planning and decision guide
Treat cautions as part of the result
Discuss abnormal laboratory values with a qualified clinician based on their clinical meaning, not their effect on PhenoAge.
Do not use the estimate to diagnose disease, predict individual lifespan, or start, stop or change treatment.
Escalate symptoms or clinical questions
Seek qualified medical advice for symptoms, diagnosed conditions, medicines, pregnancy, or individualized treatment decisions.
Frequently asked questions
Is PhenoAge a DNA methylation clock?
No. This calculator uses chronological age and routine clinical biomarkers.
Does a lower result mean I will live longer?
Not necessarily. It reflects a population-derived mortality association and cannot predict an individual lifespan.
Why must CRP be greater than zero?
The published equation contains the natural logarithm of CRP, which is undefined at zero.
Can I compare tests from different laboratories?
Method and timing differences may affect values, so comparisons require consistent conditions and clinical context.
Sources and review
- A New Aging Measure Captures Morbidity and Mortality Risk Across Diverse Subpopulations from NHANES IV — PLOS Medicine via PubMed Central. Accessed 2026-08-03.
- A Toolkit for Quantification of Biological Age from Blood Chemistry and Organ Function Test Data: BioAge — GeroScience via PubMed Central. Accessed 2026-08-03.
Reviewed 2026-08-03.