How cell health affects aging and what you can do about it

(Aging Untold) — The human body is made up of trillions of cells that perform functions from skin protection to muscle movement. Cells can renew themselves and remove damaged cells, but aging and other factors can alter cell function.

Dr. Rhea Rogers, a board-certified physician, said cell function decreases naturally with age.

“As we get older, you’re going to get accelerated aging, especially if you damage the cells,” Rogers said. “And the cells provide the energy for all the organs.”

Rogers compared cells to small businesses that need energy to stay open. That energy comes from mitochondria, which she called the power plants of cells.

Cell damage and mitochondria

Mitochondria can repair themselves, fight stress and regenerate. But stress, poor sleep, inflammation and toxins can damage mitochondria and prevent regeneration, Rogers said.

“We don’t clear out the old ones, so they kind of take over,” Rogers said. “And then you start to get things like your muscles will weaken, tissues start to fail.”

The deterioration happens gradually and cells begin making decisions to adapt to deteriorating conditions, Rogers said.

Sam Cradduck, a gerontologist, said families sometimes misunderstand this process.

“They’ll think that you’re just not trying hard enough,” Cradduck said. “And they get so frustrated with our older adults. And they think that they’re just not trying when truly their physical body is just worn down and it’s breaking down and they physically can’t.”

“We were not designed to live forever,” she added.

What caregivers can do

Amy O’Rourke, an aging expert, asked what caregivers can do to maintain cell health.

Rogers said the goal at a certain point is to stop progression. Some things may not be reversible, but intervention is possible.

Nutrition is critical.

“Every time we eat, insulin goes up,” Rogers said. “And when insulin goes up, it’s trying to get you to utilize your blood sugars in a good way, meaning to burn it into the muscle.”

Rogers said ultra-processed foods and sugar create inflammation. When muscles become resistant, glucose stays in the bloodstream. Insulin pushes it to the liver, which stores it as fat and starch, creating inflammation.

Movement is also important as a natural way to lower insulin and stop chronic inflammation, Rogers said.