What are the hallmarks of aging?
The hallmarks of aging are the 12 main biological processes that scientists agree drive aging, from damage to DNA to slowing cellular recycling and chronic inflammation.
Think of an aging house. The hallmarks are the different ways it wears out: cracks in the foundation, rusting pipes, faulty wiring, a leaking roof. Each is separate, but they make each other worse.
Why it matters for aging
The framework was first published in 2013 and updated in 2023 to twelve hallmarks: genomic instability (DNA damage), telomere shortening, epigenetic changes, loss of protein quality control, disabled autophagy, deregulated nutrient sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, stem cell exhaustion, altered communication between cells, chronic inflammation and an unbalanced gut microbiome.
Every deep dive on this site maps onto one or more of these hallmarks. Tracing a symptom upstream usually leads straight to one of them.
A common myth
Aging has one single cause, and if we fix it, we'll stop aging.
Aging is driven by many interconnected processes. That's why no single pill has stopped it, and why habits like exercise, which touch many hallmarks at once, are so powerful.
Go deeper
Deep dives
- The first part of you to break isn't in your nucleus
- The best supplements for longevity, graded by evidence
- How long do you have to fast for autophagy? The honest answer
Related terms
Updated Nov 9, 2026 · All terms