What Are the Hallmarks of Aging?
Share
Key takeaways
- Scientists describe aging as the result of 12 interconnected cellular processes—from DNA wear-and-tear to chronic inflammation.
- This framework offers a roadmap for supporting healthy aging through measurement, habits, and care guided by data.
- Boomerang Kit helps you track selected biomarkers (e.g., hormones, vitamins, thyroid, heart health, NAD) so you can see baselines, make changes, and retest to measure progress.
The 12 Hallmarks—plain English
1) Genomic instability
Daily stressors (UV, oxidative stress, replication errors) can damage DNA. The body repairs a lot of it, but efficiency declines with age.
2) Telomere attrition
Telomeres are protective caps on chromosomes that shorten as cells divide. Critically short telomeres limit renewal capacity.
3) Epigenetic alterations
Chemical “tags” on DNA/proteins control which genes turn on or off. With age, these patterns can drift from an optimal state.
4) Loss of proteostasis
Cells must fold, recycle, and clear proteins correctly. When this quality control falters, damaged proteins can accumulate.
5) Impaired macroautophagy
Autophagy is cellular clean-up and recycling (including old mitochondria). Reduced autophagy leads to more cellular “clutter.”
6) Deregulated nutrient sensing
Pathways that sense nutrients (like insulin and mTOR) help balance growth and repair. With age, that balance can skew.
7) Mitochondrial dysfunction
Mitochondria make cellular energy (ATP). Over time, their performance can decline, affecting energy, recovery, and resilience.
8) Cellular senescence
Aged or stressed cells may stop dividing but refuse to leave. These “senescent” cells can release signals that disturb nearby cells.
9) Stem cell exhaustion
Tissue repair depends on stem cells. Their numbers/function can dwindle, slowing renewal.
10) Altered intercellular communication
Cells talk via hormones and signals. Aging can distort that conversation—think insulin resistance as one example.
11) Chronic inflammation (“inflammaging”)
Low-grade, persistent inflammation can rise with age and feed back into other hallmarks.
12) Dysbiosis (gut microbiome imbalance)
Microbial diversity often drops with age, which can affect digestion, metabolism, and immune balance.
How Boomerang Kit fits in
Boomerang focuses on measuring what you can act on—so you can make informed choices and see if they work.
- General Health Panel / Heart Health Panel: key cardiometabolic markers that relate to inflammation and energy balance.
- Women’s / Men’s / Testosterone / Fertility Panels: hormone insights tied to nutrient sensing, communication, and recovery.
- Thyroid Function Panel: thyroid hormones influence metabolism, energy, and nutrient signaling.
- Vitamin Panel: nutrients like Vitamin D, B-vitamins, and others support mitochondrial function, protein maintenance, and immune balance.
- STD / HSV Panels (1/2/3): status checks to manage health proactively alongside other biomarkers.
- NAD Longevity Blueprint™: a deeper look at NAD⁺, NADH, NAD⁺/NADH ratio, and Total NAD—molecules central to mitochondrial energy and cellular repair.
Use the loop: baseline → adjust (sleep, training, nutrition, stress, clinician-guided care) → retest to confirm progress.
What this page is—and isn’t
This is a high-level guide to how scientists think about aging. Boomerang Kits provide wellness insights and are not medical diagnoses. Always consult a licensed clinician for treatment decisions.
Ready to turn insights into action?
Choose your panel, collect at home, and get clear, lab-verified results in your secure dashboard—then retest to track real change over time.