The Biohack Index Formula
Every compound is scored across five dimensions, weighted by importance to the longevity-focused consumer:
- Evidence Quality (35%): RCTs > cohort studies > preclinical > mechanistic. Human data weighs 3x more than animal data. Replication matters — one study is a signal, not proof.
- Mechanism Clarity (20%): Is the biological pathway understood? Can we explain why this works at the molecular level? Compounds with clear mechanisms score higher because they're less likely to be statistical noise.
- Safety Profile (20%): Long-term safety data, known drug interactions, contraindications, and the therapeutic window (margin between effective dose and toxic dose).
- Practical Accessibility (15%): Cost per effective dose, availability, storage requirements, and ease of compliance. A perfect compound that costs $1,000/month or degrades at room temperature scores lower.
- Measurability (10%): Can you verify the supplement is working through a biomarker? Compounds where you can test your response (e.g., vitamin D → blood test) score higher than those where you're guessing.
What We Don't Score
We don't rank branded products in the index — that's what our Stack Reviews section is for. The index scores compounds and protocols, not specific products. We also don't score prescription medications (rapamycin, metformin) — those require medical supervision and are outside the scope of self-directed supplementation.
Updates
Rankings are recalculated monthly as new research publishes. Major scoring changes are flagged in the Biohack News section with an explanation of what changed and why.