Primary cause

Genomic instability

As we age, our genetic material becomes less stable, accumulating errors over time. It’s like an important document that, with repeated copying, fills with typos, disrupting vital processes and leading to health issues like cancer.

Primary cause

Telomere shortening

The protective caps on our chromosomes get shorter each time our cells divide. When they become too short, cells cannot divide anymore, which leads to tissue malfunction and diseases.

Primary cause

Epigenetic alterations

Chemical changes can turn genes on or off without changing the DNA itself, sometimes resulting in abnormal gene activity.

Primary cause

Loss of proteostasis

Proteins are essential for cell function. If they are incorrectly formed, used, and broken down, it can lead to compromised organ function, including Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s disease.

Antagonistic causes

Deregulated nutrient-sensing

The body's mechanism for gleaning vital nutrients from what we eat becomes less reliable.

Antagonistic causes

Mitochondrial dysfunction

The energy factories in our cells begin to work less efficiently, leading to less energy and more harmful byproducts.

Antagonistic causes

Cellular senescence

This state occurs when our cells stop dividing and enter a permanent cell cycle arrest (referred to as “zombie cells”), which leads to inflammation. It often arises in response to stress, toxin exposure, genetic damage, etc.

Manifestations of aging hallmarks

Microbiome dysbiosis

The friendly microbes living in our gut can get outnumbered by harmful ones, affecting brain health, immunity, and causing chronic inflammation.

Manifestations of aging hallmarks

Disabled macroautophagy

The process that removes and recycles damaged cell parts becomes less efficient, potentially leading to diseases like Alzheimer's.

Manifestations of aging hallmarks

Inflammaging

A constant mild inflammation can become more common, which is associated with diseases of the heart, cancer, and conditions affecting memory.

Manifestations of aging hallmarks

Altered cellular communication

When our body is aging, there are changes in signaling pathways between cells, which can potentially lead to abnormal cell function, disease development or improper response to external stimuli within the body.

Manifestations of aging hallmarks

Stem cell exhaustion

A gradual and progressive loss of our body’s intrinsic capability to repair and regenerate itself from accumulated damage over time