Methods of biological age estimation and identification

Introduction: The calculation of biological age is a fundamental element for the identification of individuals in legal, administrative, migratory, and forensic fields. Objective: To update the knowledge about the different methods of biological age estimation. Material and Methods: A bibliographi...

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Main Authors: Halina Pérez Alvarez, Yaimara Zunén Hernández Puentes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana 2023-08-01
Series:Revista Habanera de Ciencias Médicas
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Online Access:https://revhabanera.sld.cu/index.php/rhab/article/view/4924
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author Halina Pérez Alvarez
Yaimara Zunén Hernández Puentes
author_facet Halina Pérez Alvarez
Yaimara Zunén Hernández Puentes
author_sort Halina Pérez Alvarez
collection DOAJ
description Introduction: The calculation of biological age is a fundamental element for the identification of individuals in legal, administrative, migratory, and forensic fields. Objective: To update the knowledge about the different methods of biological age estimation. Material and Methods: A bibliographic review was carried out between December 2021 and January 2022. References were searched in the Pubmed/Medline, ScienceDirect, and SciELO databases. The Google Scholar search engine was used. The keywords: "chronological age", "age estimation", "biological age", and their English equivalents were used in the search strategy. Relevant literature or articles recently published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese available in full text were considered as selection criteria. The analysis of quality, reliability and methodological validity of the chosen articles allowed us to carry out an adequate review and the selection of 36 bibliographic sources. Development: Biological age is closely related to chronological age, but differs from it. Its estimation for human identification purposes constitutes an action of great relevance and complexity. The main available methods can be grouped into morphological, histological, biochemical, and epigenetic. Not all of them have the same degree of technological complexity or reliability. Conclusions: The determination of biological age is one of the pillars of human identification, which is of great interest in forensic sciences. There are different methodologies for its calculation. Not all of them are applicable and useful, so the choice must be based on a rigorous scientific analysis.
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spelling doaj-art-27184a8bcd8d4629b9149b1b3ddcb0cc2025-08-20T02:32:10ZengUniversidad de Ciencias Médicas de La HabanaRevista Habanera de Ciencias Médicas1729-519X2023-08-01222e4924e49242069Methods of biological age estimation and identificationHalina Pérez Alvarez0Yaimara Zunén Hernández Puentes1Instituto de Medicina Legal. La Habana. Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana. La Habana.Hospital Militar Central Dr. Carlos J. Finlay. La Habana Universidad de Ciencias Médicas de La Habana. La Habana.Introduction: The calculation of biological age is a fundamental element for the identification of individuals in legal, administrative, migratory, and forensic fields. Objective: To update the knowledge about the different methods of biological age estimation. Material and Methods: A bibliographic review was carried out between December 2021 and January 2022. References were searched in the Pubmed/Medline, ScienceDirect, and SciELO databases. The Google Scholar search engine was used. The keywords: "chronological age", "age estimation", "biological age", and their English equivalents were used in the search strategy. Relevant literature or articles recently published in English, Spanish, or Portuguese available in full text were considered as selection criteria. The analysis of quality, reliability and methodological validity of the chosen articles allowed us to carry out an adequate review and the selection of 36 bibliographic sources. Development: Biological age is closely related to chronological age, but differs from it. Its estimation for human identification purposes constitutes an action of great relevance and complexity. The main available methods can be grouped into morphological, histological, biochemical, and epigenetic. Not all of them have the same degree of technological complexity or reliability. Conclusions: The determination of biological age is one of the pillars of human identification, which is of great interest in forensic sciences. There are different methodologies for its calculation. Not all of them are applicable and useful, so the choice must be based on a rigorous scientific analysis.https://revhabanera.sld.cu/index.php/rhab/article/view/4924edad biológicaedad cronológicaidentificación humanaestimación de la edad
spellingShingle Halina Pérez Alvarez
Yaimara Zunén Hernández Puentes
Methods of biological age estimation and identification
Revista Habanera de Ciencias Médicas
edad biológica
edad cronológica
identificación humana
estimación de la edad
title Methods of biological age estimation and identification
title_full Methods of biological age estimation and identification
title_fullStr Methods of biological age estimation and identification
title_full_unstemmed Methods of biological age estimation and identification
title_short Methods of biological age estimation and identification
title_sort methods of biological age estimation and identification
topic edad biológica
edad cronológica
identificación humana
estimación de la edad
url https://revhabanera.sld.cu/index.php/rhab/article/view/4924
work_keys_str_mv AT halinaperezalvarez methodsofbiologicalageestimationandidentification
AT yaimarazunenhernandezpuentes methodsofbiologicalageestimationandidentification