Understanding the Hallmarks of Aging
Aging is not just about getting older—it’s a biological process that unfolds deep within our cells. Scientific advances now define aging through 12 interrelated “hallmarks” that explain why and how the body declines over time.
At Nao, these hallmarks form the foundation of our Longevity Programme, shaping how we personalise lifestyle, nutrition, and therapeutic interventions for lasting health and vitality.
How the Hallmarks of Aging Inform Nao’s Longevity Programme
Aging is driven by 12 interconnected biological mechanisms, known as the Hallmarks of Aging, which are grouped into:
Primary: cellular damage initiators)
Antagonistic: body’s maladaptive responses
Integrative: long-term system decline
At Nao, we don’t see aging as inevitable, but as a process that can be influenced.
Our longevity programme targets these hallmarks through a personalised approach grounded in biomarker testing.
By integrating precision nutrition, movement, sleep optimisation, and self-mastery, we aim to regulate gene expression, restore cellular resilience, and extend healthspan—the years lived in optimal physical and cognitive function.
Primary Hallmarks: The Triggers of Aging
These are the fundamental disruptions that start the aging process at the cellular level:
Genomic Instability
DNA damage accumulates from environmental toxins, stress, and time. This weakens cellular repair and raises disease risk.
Telomere Attrition
Telomeres (the protective ends of chromosomes) shorten with every cell division. When they become too short, cells lose function or die.
Epigenetic Alterations
Gene expression becomes unbalanced as we age, due to changes in DNA packaging—affecting everything from metabolism to cellular repair.
Loss of Proteostasis
The body’s ability to fold, manage, and recycle proteins breaks down, leading to toxic protein buildup seen in diseases like Alzheimer’s.
Nao’s Approach
We target these hallmarks with precision nutrition, epigenetic-friendly foods, detox therapies, and DNA repair-supportive practices—all personalised to your unique biomarkers.
Antagonistic Hallmarks: The Body’s Overreaction
These are the body’s responses to damage that, when uncontrolled, contribute further to aging:
Mitochondrial Dysfunction
The cell’s energy producers become less efficient and release damaging free radicals.
Cellular Senescence
Damaged cells stop dividing but don’t die—they linger, causing inflammation and tissue damage.
Deregulated Nutrient Sensing
Aging disrupts how cells sense and use nutrients, leading to metabolic imbalances.
Nao’s Approach
We apply movement therapy, fasting-mimicking nutrition, red light therapy, and senolytic-inspired interventions to support mitochondrial health, reduce inflammation, and rebalance metabolism.
Integrative Hallmarks: The Breakdown of Systems
These are the final outcomes of accumulated damage:
Stem Cell Exhaustion
The body loses its ability to regenerate tissues.
Altered Intercellular Communication
Inflammatory signals spread between cells, accelerating aging.
Nao’s Approach
Our self-mastery, restorative sleep protocols, and targeted therapies (like PBM, cryo, neuromodulation) work to restore regeneration and calm inflammatory signaling.
