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Differential Biological Cost

Meaning

Differential Biological Cost is a clinical framework for evaluating the varying physiological expenditure or allostatic load imposed by different lifestyle choices, environmental exposures, or therapeutic interventions on an individual’s long-term health and endocrine reserves. It quantifies the trade-off between a short-term gain, such as intense training or pharmacological intervention, and the long-term systemic wear-and-tear, particularly on the HPA axis and overall cellular longevity. Understanding this cost allows for more sustainable and health-span-focused clinical decisions.