The researchers investigated the bones of 400 Russian families - 787 men 18 to 89 years old and 723 women 18 to 90 years old.
They found a new biological marker that reveals the speed of physical aging comes from genetics.
The new marker named osseographic score (OSS) can be used as a scientific tool in predicting a person's general function and his lifespan, according to Tel Aviv University scientist Dr. Leonid Kalichman., an instructor from The Stanley Stever University of Health Professions.
When a doctor determines that a person is aging "biologically faster" than normal, preventive measures such as vitamin supplements and exercise can help to slow it down.
This study is published in Biogerontology and the American Journal of Human Biology.
