Why we age and what it means for you

Understanding Why We Age: Biological vs. Chronological Age

Aging happens to everyone, but have you ever wondered why? Your chronological age is how many years you’ve been alive, but your biological age shows how old your body and cells really are. Let’s explore 12 main reasons why we age and what scientists are learning about it.

How Scientists Measure Aging

1. GlycanAge:

Scientists can measure your immune system’s age by looking at sugar patterns on your immune cells. These patterns change as you get older.

2. Epigenetic Age:

This measures which genes in your body are turned on or off. The way these genes work changes as you age.

The 12 Hallmark Reasons for Aging

1. DNA Damage

Every day, your DNA gets damaged from things like the environment and free radicals. Your body fixes most of it, but as you get older, it can’t keep up. This damage increases the risk of diseases like cancer.

2. Shorter Telomeres

Telomeres are like caps at the ends of your chromosomes that protect them. Every time a cell divides, the telomeres get shorter. When they get too short, cells stop working. Research has shown that we can positively alter our telomeres through diet and exercise.

3. Cellular Senescence (Sleeping Cells)

Some cells stop dividing but don’t die. These “sleeping” cells send out harmful signals that can damage nearby healthy cells, making you age faster.

4. Epigenetic Reprogramming (Turning Genes Back On)

Scientists have found certain factors (called Yamanaka Factors) that might turn old cells back into young ones. This shows that aging might not be permanent.

5. Chronic Inflammation/Chronic Stress

Inflammation is helpful when you’re stressed, sick, or hurt, but if it doesn’t stop, it can damage your body. This ongoing inflammation speeds up aging.

6. Altered Cell Communication

Cells send signals to work together, but as you age, these signals get mixed up. This makes it harder for your body to repair itself.

7. Fewer Stem Cells

Stem cells are like blank slates that can turn into any type of cell your body needs. As you get older, you have fewer of them, so it’s harder for your body to heal.

8. Protein Misfolding

Your body needs proteins to work properly, but as you age, they don’t get made correctly. This can cause harmful junk to build up in your cells.

9. Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondria are the powerhouses of your cells. They create energy for your body. As you age, they don’t work as well and produce more waste, which can harm your cells.

10. Dysregulated Nutrient Sensing

Your body has systems to handle food and energy. If you eat too much or don’t exercise, your body stays in “build mode” instead of switching to “repair mode.” This slows down repair and increases aging processes.

11. Gut Microbiome Changes

The bacteria in your gut help keep you healthy, but as you age, the balance changes. This can lead to problems like inflammation and less energy.

12. Reduced Autophagy (Trouble Cleaning Up)

Your body has a system to clean out damaged or junky cells, but this slows down as you age. Practices like fasting might help your body start cleaning again.

What This Means for You

Aging isn’t just about getting older—it’s about how your body changes over time. Scientists are learning ways to slow this process, like eating healthy, maintaining healthy sleep cycles, managing stress, exercising, intermittent fasting, exercise your brain by learning new things, and trying new therapies. Taking care of yourself now can help you stay healthier for longer!

Want to know more? Explore tips and solutions to keep your body feeling young and strong.