THE SCIENCE

Built by the scientists who wrote

the papers.

The epigenetic age test built for men who want deeper insight into performance, longevity, and biological health.

8,436 profiles in the validation dataset. Not a generic average

Backed by peer-reviewed papers from the founding clinical team

CLIA-certified lab · results in 4 weeks · no needles

THE FOUNDING TEAM

THE FOUNDING TEAM

Founder · KCH Hepatologist

CEO, Chief Medical Officer

Dr Saima Ajaz

BSc, MBBS, MPhil, PhD, Dip IBLM/BSLM, DABRM· Patents for novel biomarker panels · King's College Hospital · Founder, LIVFIT

Clinical Authority

Prof. Kypros Nicolaides

Founder, Fetal Medicine Foundation · King's College London · 100+ countries trained

Algorithm Architect

Chris Collins BSc PGc PGd

Published epigenetic clock researcher · Muhdo Health · ORCID: 0000-0003-2850-1950

OB/GYN Clinical Lead

Dr Nitu Bajekal

Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist · 30 years NHS · Female biology specialist

285

Unique CpG sites

1,041

Men in Training Set

8,436

Profiles in Validation

R2 0.88

Accuracy Score

“Epigenetics lets us see ageing written into the genome. But until now, all available clocks treated male and female biology as interchangeable. AlphaAge was designed to change that. Built for male health, with deeper insight into performance, recovery, longevity, and biological age.”

Title

CHRIS COLLINS, BSc, PGc, PGd

[published author of 3 epigenetic clocks]

ORCID: 0000-0003-2850-1950 ↗
UNDERSTANDING THE SCIENCE

What is Epigenetics, really?

Your DNA is fixed from birth. Your epigenome is the control layer that decides which parts of that DNA are switched on, dialled down, or left silent. It shifts across your life, shaped by stress, sleep, training, hormones, diet, and the way you live.

Your DNA is your biological blueprint. But a blueprint does not build anything on its own. Something has to decide which instructions are used, when they are activated, and how strongly they operate.
That layer of control is your epigenome.

Your DNA — THE BLUEPRINT

The genetic code you inherited. Fixed from birth. The foundation of your biological potential.

Inherited at birth

Stable for life

Carries genetic potential

Your Epigenome — THE CONTROL LAYER

The layer that responds to how you live. It changes based on training, recovery, stress, sleep, nutrition, and age.

Updates through life

Shaped by lifestyle

Responsive to change

DNA Methylation

The Control System for your genes

Tiny chemical tags attach to your DNA and act like dimmer switches - turning genes up, down, or completely off.

DNA methylation occurs when small chemical tags called methyl groups attach to specific regions of your DNA. Unlike your DNA sequence — which is fixed — methylation patterns change throughout your life in response to how you live.

Turn genes on

Low methylation → gene expressed

Turn genes down

Partial methylation → reduced activity

Silence them entirely

High methylation → switched off

How Your Lifestyle Shapes Your Epigenome

Ten thing quietly Rewriting your biology

Your DNA is fixed from birth. Your epigenome is the layer on top that decides which parts of your DNA actually get used — and it changes throughout your life based on how you live.
🥗 Nutrition 😰 Stress 😴 Sleep 🌿 Environmental exposures 🏃 Exercise ⏳ Ageing 💡 Lifestyle habits 💊 Medication 🧠 Psyche 💰 Social & economic status

Why Epigenetics Matters More Than a Blood Test

The Test that sees problems before they become problems

Standard tests measure what is happening now. Epigenetics shows what is coming - sometimes years in advance.

Methylation patterns reflect how your genes are operating today. Biological strain shows up before symptoms do.

 

The DEPH Labs science team has published over 20 papers in DNA methylation science. By analysing methylation directly, ENGNE provides insight into:

Biological ageing — how old your cells actually are

Cellular health — how efficiently your body is maintaining itself

Lifestyle impact on gene regulation — which habits are helping or hurting

“Many methylation tests on the market are actually genotype tests. They analyse genetic variants like MTHFR but never measure the methylation marks themselves. That is the difference between estimating someone’s weight by looking at them and measuring it with calibrated scales. AlphaAge directly measures DNA methylation levels.” - Collins.

WHY MEN NEED A DIFFERENT CLOCK

Every other Biological age test was built on the wrong data

Most epigenetic clocks were trained on mixed-sex or majority-female datasets. That is not good enough for men, whose biology ages through a distinctly different pattern.

The first generation of clocks, including Horvath’s landmark model, were trained on mixed populations with no optimisation for male biology. Most still are. That is the industry standard. ENGNE was built to move beyond it.

 

Men show distinct biological signals linked to testosterone, recovery, inflammation, muscle health, cellular aging, and lifestyle pressure. A generic clock can smooth over these signals.

 

Some genes linked to aging biology show different methylation patterns between men and women. That means a model built for everyone may miss what matters most for men.

“If male biology ages through a different pattern, measuring it with a generic model risks missing the signals that matter most.”

A MALE-FOCUSED EPIGENETIC CLOCK

Our biological clock is trained on DNA methylation data and designed to read the signals that matter for men.

 

From thousands of epigenetic markers, the science identifies specific DNA methylation sites that track biological aging with high precision in saliva.

Tiny chemical tags attach to your DNA and act like dimmer switches. They help turn genes up, down, or completely off.

When tested, the clock achieved strong accuracy in the population it was designed for, with a validated biological age prediction model.

The Data Behind the Difference

Methylation  trajectories diverge by sex

Male methylation patterns follow a different biological trajectory. A clock trained on mixed-sex data blurs this signal.
Male Methylation vs Age Male Reference 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 0.1 0.2 0.3 0.4 0.5 0.6 0.7 Age Methylation Male methylation shift biological age signal performance window Male methylation patterns can reveal biological age signals across life. ENGNE turns DNA and epigenetic insight into clearer action.

What the highlighted band shows: Ages 30 to 60 can reveal important male biological signals linked to performance, recovery, inflammation, metabolic health, and cellular maintenance.

 

What the reference line shows: A generic model can smooth these signals into a broad average. That can reduce the clarity of the result.

 

Male methylation is not just a variation of female biology. It carries its own biological pattern. That is why ENGNE uses a male-focused clock.

“If the biology of ageing differs between men and women, then measuring it with a generic model risks missing important signals.”

WHY MALE-SPECIFIC AGEING MATTERS

Ageing is not a single universal process

Biological ageing in men is shaped by five systems that behave differently from women, and most clocks ignore them.

At the molecular level, biological ageing reflects the cumulative impact of:

Testosterone and androgen signalling

Cellular repair processes

Immune system activity

Metabolic regulation

Training, stress, and environmental exposure

Many of these systems behave differently in men. Designing a clock around male biology, using markers that show sex-specific methylation patterns, allows these differences to be captured accurately, not averaged away.
YOUR BIOLOGICAL AGE

THE  ALPHA Age  CLOCK

Your birthday tells you how many years you have been alive. Alpha Age tells you how well your body is actually ageing.

Chronological Age

What your passport says

42 years

Fixed number based on your date of birth. Cannot be changed.

Biological Age (ENGNEAge)

What your cells say

39 years

3 years younger!

Dynamic number based on DNA methylation. Can be improved with lifestyle changes.

WHAT YOUR alpha AGE SCORE MEASURES.

HeartAge

Cardiovascular health markers showing how your heart is aging compared to your chronological age

Cognitive Health

Brain-related methylation patterns that indicate cognitive aging and mental wellness

Metabolic Age

Metabolism and energy-related markers showing how efficiently your body processes nutrients

THE PROOF

How accurate is ALPHA age ? The data

R² = 0.849 means the clock explains 85% of the variation in biological age — comparable to much larger, blood-based clocks, and outperforming male cohorts in female-specific gene regions.

R² 0.775

Same clock on female cohort. Lower. As expected.

R² 0.88

Male cohort — explains ~85% of biological age variation
ENGNE focus
Male biology
Male cohort
2,097 men
Prediction error
~4.46 years
Core signal
DNA methylation
Clock markers
41 CpG sites
Platform
Illumina EPIC 850k

A male-focused CpG clock improves clarity by reading biological signals that matter for men. Recovery, metabolism, inflammation, cellular repair, and hormone-linked ageing can be better understood through DNA methylation than chronological age alone.

ENGNE compares predicted biological age with actual age using epigenetic clock data. This helps reveal how male biology may be aging beneath the surface.

What Our Saliva Test Actually Measures

You spit. We Read 285 timestamps in your genome.

Your saliva contains DNA from multiple cell types. We extract it, measure methylation at 285 specific sites, and give you a biological age with male-focused readouts.

Saliva contains epithelial cells and immune cells. This means one sample can capture signals from multiple biological systems. Using advanced methylation analysis, the ENGNE lab measures patterns across thousands of genome locations, then focuses on the 41 sites that matter most for biological age.

ENGNE specialises in saliva DNA methylation.

HORMONE SIGNALLING

Male-specific ageing signals linked to testosterone, androgen activity, and biological resilience.

RECOVERY

Immune and inflammation trajectory. Catch warning signals before they become visible.

AGEING

Individual-level cellular ageing. Age is now change, not time.

PERFORMANCE

Recovery, periodisation, peak performance window identification.

The Research

ALPHA Age : A male specific epigenetic clock

A third-generation DNA methylation clock designed on 285 CpG sites from saliva - by Christopher Collins (ORCID: 0000-0003-2850-1950)

1.objective

Develop a saliva-based epigenetic clock trained exclusively on male biology, with greater clarity and accuracy than generic models.

Key questions:

Does a male-focused model improve biological age prediction?

Are there sex-specific methylation differences at clock CpGs?

2.methodology

Cohorts

Male training cohort: 1,041 men.

 Male test cohort:

2,097 men

Age range: 18-86 years

Data

DNA methylation measured using Illumina EPIC 850k array

Model

41 CpG sites selected from EWAS (p < 1×10⁻⁸)

Linear regression epigenetic clock trained for male biology

Validation

Tested against reference cohort and biological age outcomes

3.Results/Findings

A shared CpG clock can work across sexes. Male-specific calibration improves biological relevance for men.

Benefits:

Saliva methylation clock

Non invasive sampling

Strong correlation with age

Potential use in biological age testing and personalised health

Male-focused methylation patterns showed signals linked to ageing biology, recovery, metabolism, inflammation, and cellular maintenance.

3.1.results - MORE ACCURATE MALE AGEING SIGNALS

16 26 36 46 56 66 76 86 0 Baseline 0.5 Early signal 1 Biological shift 2 Acceleration Age in years Male biological signal Chronological age ENGNE biological clock

ENGNE shows biological age variability with potential mechanisms for recovery, metabolic health, inflammation, and long-term ageing risk.

4.consumer analysis

ENGNE can be tested across male cohorts, with results shaped by genetics, training, nutrition, sleep, stress, medication, and lifestyle.

 

These factors can influence ENGNE Age and help men understand whether their biology is ageing faster or slower than expected.

5.conclusion

High accuracy in male biological age prediction

Sex-specific methylation differences support male-focused calibration

DNA methylation provides a direct signal of biological ageing

Male ageing shows distinct patterns compared with female biology

ENGNE gives men a clearer view of ageing beneath the surface

Methodology, cohorts, accuracy results, male-specific methylation findings, biological age chart, consumer analysis, and key conclusions.

Beyond UmmuAge

5 Epigenetic  tests. 1 saliva sample.

Your ENGNE subscription includes ENGNE Age, 4 organ-specific age clocks, an Epi-Vitality resilience test, MethylGuard injury prediction, and DNA genotyping. All from a single saliva sample.

Epigenetic Age Clock

5 Biological Age Tests

In addition to ENGNE Age, ENGNE includes 4 organ-specific epigenetic age clocks. All are based on DNA methylation testing.

❤️ Heart Age
🧠 Memory / Brain Age
👂 Hearing Age
👁️ Eye Age

epi-vitality

The Epi-Vitality Test

Your ENGNE subscription includes ENGNE Age plus 4 organ-specific age clocks, Epi-Vitality resilience testing, MethylGuard injury prediction, and DNA genotyping. All from a single saliva sample.

Analyses DNA methylation at 3 specific CpG sites to calculate a composite Epi-Vitality Index. The genes relate to immune signalling, DNA repair, stress biology, and cellular resilience.

MALE COHORT, HIGH SCORERS SHOWED:

Lower subjective hot flushes
p<0.001
Thicker hair (subjective)
p<0.001
Superior memory (tested & subjective)
p<0.001
Stronger bones (BMD)
p<0.001
Superior cholesterol levels
p<0.001
Superior muscle power / handgrip
p<0.001

METHYLGUARD

Injury Prediction Before the Injury

Predicts overtraining and injury risk at a cellular level, before pain or fatigue begins.

An inflammatory epigenetic analysis test built to understand male athletic biology. MethylGuard predicts overtraining signals before pain, strains, or fatigue appear.

the data

dna genotyping

WHY SINGLE-GENE TESTS CAN MISLEAD, AND WHAT ENGNE DOES INSTEAD

Looking at 1 gene variant, like MTHFR, explains only a small part of the genetic picture. ENGNE uses polygenic scores, combining thousands of variants for stronger predictive insight.

1. Most traits are polygenic

Heart health, metabolic risk, body composition, strength potential, and mental resilience are influenced by thousands of variants. A single SNP explains only a small part of the picture.

2. Aggregates small effects

Each SNP contributes a tiny weighted effect. Combining thousands of signals creates a broader genetic risk profile.

3. Single SNPs are misleading

One variant may increase risk, while other variants reduce it. Gene-gene interactions and lifestyle context matter. Polygenic scoring gives a clearer view.

4. Better prediction accuracy

Polygenic risk scores can improve prediction across key traits by combining many small genetic signals into 1 measurable score.

5. Enables stratification

PRS places individuals into risk groups, such as low, average, or elevated risk. This supports earlier and more personalised action.

6. Captures hidden heritability

SNP-by-SNP testing can miss weak individual signals. PRS captures variants that are small alone, but meaningful together.
SIMPLE ANALOGY · UNDERSTANDING RISK BY...
Single SNP
One isolated signal
Single gene
One chapter of the story
Polygenic score
Thousands of signals combined, the fuller picture.
APPROACH
INSIGHT LEVEL
Single SNP
Narrow signal
Single gene
Limited context
Polygenic score
Broader risk profile across key traits
TRAITS ENGNE CAN SCORE POLYGENICALLY:
Heart health Metabolic risk Body composition Recovery Strength potential Mental resilience Longevity traits

How ENGNE Compares

The only  Male  trained saliva clock

Seven biological age methods compared across 6 clinical criteria. ENGNE Age is saliva-based, DNA methylation-based, and built around male biology markers linked to ageing pathways.
Clock / Method Type Male trained Epigenetic biological aging Predicts age from DNA Male biology markers Pace of aging
ENGNE Age Saliva DNAm ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes ✓ Yes
10 CpG saliva clock Saliva DNAm ✗ No ✓ Yes ✓ Yes Limited ✗ No
Horvath pan tissue clock Multi tissue DNAm ✗ No ✓ Yes ✓ Yes Mixed ✗ No
Pace of aging clocks Blood DNAm ✗ No Rate only ✗ No Mixed ✓ Yes
Wearable biological age Device metrics ✗ No ✗ No ✗ No ✗ No ✗ No
MuhdoAge Saliva DNAm ✗ No ✓ Yes ✓ Yes Limited ✗ No
GlycanAge Blood glycomics ✗ No Immune aging Weak Limited ✗ No

Published Research

The  Science  is verifiable. Every claim has a citation

2025
A Cost-Effective Saliva-Based Human Epigenetic Clock Using 10 CpG Sites Identified with the Illumina EPIC 850k Array
Collins, C.; Brown, J.; Chung, H.C. · DNA 2025, 5, 28
View Research ↗
2025
Creatine Monohydrate Use Is Associated with Performance Enhancing DNA Methylation Patterns
Collins, C. & Puras, A. · SportRxiv, 2025
View Research ↗
2025
High Intensity Resistance Training Is Associated with Epigenetic Reprogramming & Distinct Salivary DNA Methylation Patterns
Collins, C. & Puras, A. · SportRxiv, 2025
View Research ↗
2025
Genetic Predisposition vs. Performance Enhancing Drug Use and Fat Free Mass Index in Strength Trained Men
Collins, C. & Puras, A. · SportRxiv, 2025
View Research ↗
2025
DNA Methylation Signatures Diverge Between Endurance and Resistance Training Modalities
Collins, C. · ResearchHub, 2025
View Research ↗
2026
High Intensity Exercise and Sport Type Are Associated with Lower Epigenetic Biological Age in Middle Aged Men
C. Collins · SportRxiv, 2026
View Research ↗
2024
A Randomised, Double Blind, Placebo Controlled, Cross Over Clinical Trial to Evaluate the Biological Effects and Safety of a Polyphenol Supplement on Healthy Ageing
Chong, J.R.; de Lucia, C.; Tovar Rios, D.A.; Collins, C. et al. · Antioxidants 2024, 13, 995
View Research ↗
2023
Responsiveness to Endurance Training Can Be Partly Explained by the Number of Favourable Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms an Individual Possesses
Chung, H.; Keiller, D.; Swain, P.; Roberts, J.; Gordon, D. · PLOS ONE, 2023
View Research ↗
2022
Born Equal: Can Genetics Make the Perfect Athlete
Collins, C. & Heasman, A. · SportRxiv, 2022
View Research ↗
2018
Can Genetics Predict Sports Injury? The Association of the Genes GDF5, AMPD1, COL5A1 and IGF2 on Soccer Player Injury Occurrence
McCabe, K.; Collins, C. · Sports 2018, 6, 21
View Research ↗
2018
The Impact of a Reduced Calorie, Macronutrient Diet Change on Caucasian Males in Relation to Genotypes Associated with Obesity, Increased BMI and Dietary Response
L. Ellis & Collins, C. · bioRxiv, 2018
View Research ↗

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