Loss of proteostasis

Loss of proteostasis is one of the established hallmarks of aging and describes the age-related decline of the protein quality control network. Chaperones become less efficient, the proteasome and autophagy slow down, and misfolded or aggregation-prone proteins accumulate. The resulting proteotoxicity contributes to neurodegenerative disorders, cardiac amyloidosis, and cellular dysfunction across tissues, making proteostasis enhancers an active longevity research target.