Hallmarks of Aging: 12 Things To Watch Out For

You’ve watched Blue Zones, subscribed to every biohacker podcast, and even made some lifestyle changes to support your longevity. Now, you’re looking for even more ways to support a longer, healthier life. 

The biology of aging begins in our cells. The cells are the very foundations of every tissue, organ, and system in the body. 

When our cells are healthy, we are, too. When cells age, they begin to malfunction. Researchers have identified 12 different cellular events that cause our cells (and, by extension, us) to age. These “hallmarks of aging,” as they are called, lead us to age faster than we should and experience more occurrences of age-related illness. 

Because these events happen at a cellular level, it can be hard to determine if they’re happening to us. We’ll discuss the 12 hallmarks of aging and talk about potential symptoms or clues that may be useful in helping address these issues in your own body. 

Then, we’ll talk about a new supplement that can address many of these issues head-on, helping support your ability to live to be a healthy, happy octogenarian. 

What Are the Hallmarks of Aging?

Researchers studying longevity have narrowed the science of biological aging down to occurrences within our cells as they age. Over time, cells simply begin to lose their function. When this happens, we experience biomarkers of aging, like age-related diseases, cognitive decline, and changes in how we feel. 

These processes are deeply scientific, but we’ll break them down into digestible language and tell you whether or not there are any physical symptoms associated with them. 

1. Genomic Instability

Over time, we get sick. Sometimes, we become so sick that it can alter our very DNA. In addition, environmental exposure to toxins may affect our gene expression. Genomic instability describes the condition of cells that have been exposed to these changes. When they replicate, they take the DNA damage with them. 

Are there signs? Genomic instability is thought to be the primary cause of cancer. Exposure to environmental toxins or extreme sickness as a child can be a risk factor for this condition.

2. Telomere Attrition

When our DNA replicates, the telomeres located at the end of each chromosome become shorter. Telomere length gets shorter with each replication. This process is called telomere shortening. Every time the telomere gets shorter, a small piece of DNA is lost in replication to new cells. 

Are there signs? Certain types of skin conditions, bone marrow issues, and lung diseases are thought to be caused by telomere attrition. Changes in skin, hair, and nails may also be rooted in this cellular process. 

3. Epigenetic Alterations

Changes we make to ourselves are called epigenetic changes or epigenetic alterations. These changes, like switching to a vegan diet or becoming pregnant, can change our epigenome. 

Are there signs? Yes! Some epigenetic alterations can be positive. For instance, if you change your diet or exercise routine. However, many alterations can lead to decreased mood, anxiety, and higher stress levels. 

4. Loss of Proteostasis

The proteins in our cells have specific roles and specific pathways to get to the places within the cells where they are needed. Loss of proteostasis refers to a condition wherein the proteins can’t get to the appropriate organelles, and the cell begins to lose function. 

Are there signs? Proteostasis issues impact our immune systems. Becoming frequently ill or dealing with a major sickness could be due to proteostasis issues in the cell. 

5. Deregulated Nutrient Sensing

The fuel your cells use for cellular activity comes from nutrients carried to the cell through four specific pathways: IGF-1, mTOR, sirtuins, and AMPK. These help cells metabolize nutrients correctly, but with age, the pathways begin to lose function, resulting in deregulated nutrient sensing. 

Are there signs? Yes. Insulin resistance is the most common form of deregulated nutrient sensing in humans. Insulin resistance occurs when cells become resistant to the insulin that carries glucose to them. Over time, this can lead to type 2 diabetes. 

Additionally, chronic inflammation can be caused by deregulated nutrient sensing. Cell death may also occur.

6. Mitochondrial Dysfunction

Mitochondria in our cells power them to carry out cellular functions. These organelles produce cellular energy, known as adenosine triphosphate (ATP). With age, less ATP is produced, which leads to energy loss in every system of the body. 

That’s not the only problem. As mitochondria begin to decline, they begin to produce reactive oxygen species (ROS). This process is referred to as oxidative stress, and it’s closely associated with aging and cellular breakdown and decline. 

Are there signs? Many. Weakness, fatigue, heart palpitations, metabolic dysfunction, and neurological changes all have their roots in mitochondrial dysfunction. 

7. Cellular Senescence

Cells have a programmed death. When they die, they are naturally removed from the body. However, as cells age, scientists have discovered that not all of them reach their programmed death date and die. 

Instead, they lose their function but remain in our bodies, causing a toxic and inflammatory environment. This process of becoming “zombie” cells is referred to as cellular senescence. 

Are there signs? It’s thought that one of the underlying causes of Alzheimer’s disease is an increase in senescent cells. It may also be a cause of chronic inflammation. 

8. Stem Cell Exhaustion

Stem cells are the supercells the body uses to repair damaged tissue. They can be used to repair any other cell type in the body, but over time, they lose their shapeshifting abilities, leading to a condition called stem cell exhaustion. 

Are there signs? Persistent fatigue that cannot be explained could be a sign of stem cell exhaustion. Reduced immune function and cognitive changes may also be caused by a reduction in available stem cells. 

9. Altered Intercellular Communication

Cells must be able to communicate with one another to work together to keep our bodies in homeostasis. This type of communication ensures functions like glucose metabolism, cholesterol balance, mood, appetite, sleep, and immunity are all balanced and regulated. 

When cells lose their ability to communicate properly, as they do when they age, these functions also lose balance.

Are there signs? There can be signs of altered cell communication, like muscle weakness and fatigue, slower wound healing, and decreases in immunity.

10. Disabled Macroautophagy

Cells reuse old, damaged cell parts in the creation of new cellular structures. Studies link disabled macroautophagy with a decreased lifespan, so learning to support your cells’ autophagy is important in lengthening your lifespan. 

Are there signs? The biggest sign of disabled macroautophagy is neurodegenerative diseases, like Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. 

11. Chronic Inflammation

Chronic, low-level inflammation is a malfunction of the immune system that causes immune cells to continue to produce an inflammatory response even when no danger is present. Proinflammatory cytokines have become useful in measuring levels of chronic inflammation that underlie conditions like cardiovascular disease and insulin resistance, as well as how frail a person has become. 

Are there signs? Signs of chronic inflammation include fatigue, body aches and pains, fever, changes in mood, and sleep disturbances. 

12. Dysbiosis

The gut microbiome can experience changes that can negatively impact the way it functions, and the way it communicates with the rest of the body. Dysbiosis is a specific type of change in gut microflora that scientists can link to certain age-related illnesses and specific patterns of health decline in older people. 

Are there signs? Changes in digestive health, like gas, bloating, and diarrhea can be symptoms of dysbiosis as well as changes in metabolic health, like unexplained weight gain, type 2 diabetes, liver function problems, and kidney issues. 

Addressing the Hallmarks of Aging

It’s not all bad news. Even though these changes may happen with time, there are ways we can support our cellular health and specifically target these processes so that we can effectively reverse cellular aging. 

One way to do this is by taking fatty15 every day.

What Is Fatty15?

Fatty15 is the first and only supplement that contains the pure, vegan-friendly, and sustainable version of C15:0. What’s C15:0? That’s an even better question. 

C15:0 is an odd-chain, saturated fatty acid that has been identified as essential, which means we need it to thrive but cannot readily make it on our own. C15:0 supports cellular health by targeting many of the cellular hallmarks of aging, even better than leading longevity molecules like rapamycin and metformin. 

C15:0: 

• Keeps cell membranes strong and improves their strength by 80%.
  
  
• Clears damaged “zombie” cells by activating AMPK.
  
  
• Calms and lowers proinflammatory cytokines.
  
  
• Restores mitochondrial function by increasing ATP production by 350% and reducing ROS by 45%.
  
  
• Restores total body homeostasis by activating AMPK, which regulates glucose uptake and helps calm the immune system.
  
  
• Activates PPARɑ and PPARẟ receptors. In peer-reviewed studies, C15:0 has been shown to support metabolic, immune, heart, and liver health in relevant models by activating these receptors. These receptors also help to improve mood and deepen sleep.
  
  
• Improves the gut microbiome.

It even helps lower “bad” LDL cholesterol and improves liver enzymes. Providing your body adequate levels of C15:0 is important for your long-term health. 

In fact, C15:0 is so essential that if you don’t get enough of it in your diet, you are at risk of developing a nutritional deficiency syndrome known as Cellular Fragility Syndrome. Cellular Fragility Syndrome causes cells to become weak and susceptible to a type of cell death known as ferroptosis, which has been consistently linked to poor health outcomes like type 2 diabetes and NAFLD.

Thankfully, fixing Cellular Fragility Syndrome can be accomplished by increasing your daily C15:0 intake. An easy way to do this is through the use of a once-a-day C15:0 supplement like fatty15.

Why Is a Supplement Best?

There are a few reasons why a supplement may be a better option for increasing C15:0 instead of attempting to get your C15:0 solely from food. First, C15:0 is only found in trace amounts in food, mostly in full-fat dairy products like whole milk. 

Drinking large quantities of whole milk would be problematic for several reasons:

• Excess calories and sugar. Whole milk packs a wallop of calories and excess sugar from lactose. Just one glass nets you about 150 calories and 12 grams of sugar. This is probably why studies have associated the consumption of whole milk with higher weights.
  
  
• It’s mixed with bad fat. Although whole milk contains C15:0, it contains higher levels of bad, even-chain saturated fat that isn’t healthy for our bodies.
  
  
• Absorption. The C15:0 in whole milk is attached to branches of triglycerides that have to be broken down before the C15:0 can be used. This extra step makes the absorption less efficient.
  
  
• It isn’t vegan-friendly. For obvious reasons, vegans and people who do not want to consume animal products won’t be adding whole milk to their daily diets. 

A solution is fatty15. The only C15:0 supplement born of science and developed by the team of doctors and scientists that first discovered this essential fatty acid. 

Age in Reverse

You can’t stop the clock, but you can stop your cells from premature aging. Adding a daily dose of fatty15 to your health stack is an easy way to increase your C15:0 levels, target the hallmarks of aging, and improve your long-term health. 

Sources:

Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe | PubMed

Autophagy and Aging | PMC

The gut microbiome as a modulator of healthy ageing | Nature Reviews Gastroenterology & Hepatology

Efficacy of dietary odd-chain saturated fatty acid pentadecanoic acid parallels broad associated health benefits in humans: could it be essential? | Scientific Reports

Effect of an Asian-adapted Mediterranean diet and pentadecanoic acid on fatty liver disease: the TANGO randomized controlled trial | ScienceDirect

Pentadecanoic Acid (C15:0), an Essential Fatty Acid, Shares Clinically Relevant Cell-Based Activities with Leading Longevity-Enhancing Compounds

Dairy consumption and overweight and obesity: a systematic review of prospective cohort studies - Louie - 2011