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The Hallmarks of Aging
Aging is not one thing. Scientists group its biology into twelve interlocking hallmarks across three tiers. This is a plain-language map of each, with the everyday habits research associates with them. It is a way to understand the science, not a checklist to fix yourself.
12 hallmarks, grouped into three tiers. Select any card to read its explainer.
PrimaryAntagonisticIntegrative
The sources of molecular damage. These are unambiguously negative: they accumulate and drive the process.
The body’s responses to damage. Helpful in small doses, harmful when chronic or excessive.
The end results that emerge when damage overwhelms the repair systems, producing the aging we see and feel.
The three-tier grouping follows Lopez-Otin et al (2013). Three hallmarks marked New 2023 were added in the follow-up review. The science is active and interpretations continue to evolve.
Sources
- The Hallmarks of Aging Lopez-Otin, Blasco, Partridge, Serrano, Kroemer, Cell, 2013
- Hallmarks of aging: An expanding universe Lopez-Otin et al, Cell, 2023
- Ageing and health World Health Organization, 2024
Last reviewed: 2026-07-16