Genomic Instability
Why do we age?
In 2013, scientists identified 9 hallmarks of aging. In 2023, they updated the list to 12. Each hallmark represents a fundamental biological process that degrades over time.
The original 9 hallmarks
Genomic instability, telomere shortening, epigenetic changes, loss of proteostasis, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, and altered cell communication.
Explore the hallmarks
Tap to discover what each category of hallmark does.
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Fill in the blank
Complete the sentence about the hallmarks.
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Hallmarks are interconnected
No hallmark acts alone. Genomic instability triggers senescence, which causes inflammation, which exhausts stem cells. Targeting one hallmark often improves others.
Key Takeaway
Understanding the hallmarks gives us targets to intervene. Many current longevity therapies work by addressing one or more hallmarks.