Hallmarks of Aging
The Hallmarks of Aging are a checklist of the main things that go wrong in your body as you age. Biologists Lopez-Otin and colleagues came up with the framework. The 2023 update lists twelve. The first four are genomic instability, telomere shortening, epigenetic changes, and loss of protein quality control. Next come haywire nutrient sensing, failing mitochondria, and cellular senescence (cells that quit dividing but will not die). Then stem cell exhaustion, garbled signals between cells, and switched-off autophagy. Last, chronic inflammation and a disrupted gut microbiome (dysbiosis). Think of them as the main map researchers use to understand aging and design ways to slow it. They feed into each other, so pulling one lever often moves the others.
Last reviewed:
This definition is educational and is not medical advice, a diagnosis, or treatment. Talk to a doctor about any health decisions. Read our full medical disclaimer
Sources
- López-Otín et al.. (2023). Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe. *Cell*doi:10.1016/j.cell.2022.11.001
- López-Otín et al.. (2013). The hallmarks of aging. *Cell*doi:10.1016/j.cell.2013.05.039