Loss of proteostasis as a hallmark of aging can be understood as a disruption in the body’s ability to maintain and manage its proteins properly. Think of proteins as workers in a factory, each with a specific job to do. When proteostasis is functioning well, these workers are efficient, and the factory runs smoothly.

However, as we age, the system that oversees these workers can become less effective. It’s like the management in the factory becoming less organized, leading to mistakes, misfolded proteins, or a buildup of damaged ones. When this happens, it can cause various health problems because proteins play crucial roles in many processes within our bodies. Loss of proteostasis is a way to describe how this control over proteins becomes less effective with age and can contribute to aging-related diseases.