The Biology of Ageing
The Biology of Ageing
Ageing isn’t random. It’s a set of biological processes — damage, repair, energy decline, inflammation, and resilience — that we can understand and influence.
This hub is your “mechanisms map”: the simple explanations behind what’s happening under the surface, and why the same few processes drive most chronic disease risk over time.
If the rest of Longevity Simplified is about what to do (movement, nutrition, sleep, stress), this hub explains why it works — so you can filter hype, prioritise what matters, and make better decisions long-term.
How to Use This Hub
- Start with the Hallmarks Map. Pick the mechanism you’re curious about and begin with the “Start here” guide.
- Build a mental model first. Once the mechanisms click, practical advice becomes much easier to interpret.
- Use this hub as a reference. When you see a trend or protocol, ask: which mechanism is it claiming to influence?
- Then go practical. After you understand the biology, jump to the relevant hub (nutrition, movement, sleep, stress, environment, supplements) to apply it.
The Hallmarks Map: Where to Start
Want one guided overview first? Start with Biology of Ageing Explained Simply. If you’ve already read The Nine Hallmarks of Ageing, use this map to go deeper — each hallmark routes you to the simplest “start here” cluster below.
Loss of Proteostasis
Protein quality control declines, damaged proteins accumulate, and repair falls behind.
Start here →Mitochondrial Dysfunction
Energy production becomes less efficient, recovery slows, resilience drops.
Start here →Cellular Senescence
“Zombie cells” linger and can increase inflammation and reduce tissue function.
Start here →Dysregulated Nutrient Sensing
Insulin resistance and signalling shifts change how the body allocates energy and repair.
Start here →Genomic Instability
DNA damage accumulates over time; repair systems become less effective.
Go to repair systems →Telomere Attrition
Telomeres are one marker of cellular ageing — often misunderstood online.
Go to repair systems →Epigenetic Alterations
Gene expression patterns shift with age; “epigenetic clocks” reflect this change.
Go to repair systems →Stem Cell Exhaustion
Tissue repair capacity declines as stem cell function changes over decades.
Go to repair systems →Altered Intercellular Communication
Inflammation and signalling between tissues becomes noisier and more damaging.
Start with inflammaging →Quick Start (3 best entry points)
If you want the fastest route into the mechanisms that explain most “modern ageing”, start here:
Metabolic drivers → Mitochondria → Senescence & inflammation →
New to this topic? Read The Nine Hallmarks of Ageing first, then come back here to go deeper.
Cellular Damage & Repair
When damage accumulates faster than repair, function declines. This cluster covers the body’s maintenance systems — and what happens when they slow down.
Published Guides
- Protein Folding & Repair
- Proteostasis Explained Simply: Why Protein Quality Control Matters
- Glycation & AGEs: The “Sugar Damage” Link to Ageing
- DNA Damage & Repair: What It Means (Without the Jargon)” Link to Ageing
- What They Are, What They Aren’t” Link to Ageing
- Autophagy vs Apoptosis: Two Very Different Cleanup Systems
Mitochondria & Energy Decline
Energy supports everything: recovery, mood, focus, metabolic health, and resilience. This cluster makes mitochondria simple and actionable.
Published Guides
- Mitochondria & Ageing: The Simple Guide to Your Body’s Energy Engines
- Mitochondrial Biogenesis: How Cells Build More “Engines”
- NAD+ Explained: What It Does and Why It Declines With Age
- Mitophagy Explained: How Your Body Removes Broken Mitochondria
- Exercise and Mitochondria: Why Movement Is a Cellular Upgrade
- Brain Energy & Ageing: Why Mitochondria Matter for Focus and Mood
Oxidative Stress & Redox Balance
Oxidative stress is an imbalance between stress and recovery. This cluster explains what “oxidative load” really means and what reduces it over time.
Published Guides
Cellular Senescence & Inflammation
Senescent (“zombie”) cells can linger and secrete inflammatory signals. This cluster covers why inflammation rises with age and why it matters.
Hormesis & Resilience
Appropriate stress + recovery = adaptation. This cluster keeps hormesis practical — no extremes, just resilience-building principles.
Metabolic Signalling & Ageing Drivers
Metabolic health acts like a master control dial. This cluster covers the key signals that influence energy use, appetite, and long-term disease risk.
Published Guides
- Insulin Resistance — The Hidden Metabolic Driver of Ageing
- GLP-1 & Satiety Hormones (Natural Support for Appetite & Metabolic Health)
- mTOR & AMPK Explained: Two “Switches” That Shape Ageing
- IGF-1 Explained: Growth Signalling, Muscle, and Longevity Tradeoffs
- Chrononutrition: Why Timing Changes Metabolic Signals
- Blood Sugar Variability: Why Spikes and Dips Matter
- Appetite & Protein Leverage: Why Protein Changes Hunger
Get Your 7-Day Longevity Kickstart
If you want a simple plan to start applying the fundamentals, the 7-day checklist pulls the key levers into one calm, doable routine.
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