Cellular senescence as a hallmark of aging can be thought of as cells in your body becoming like retired workers who are no longer productive.

In our bodies, cells have a limited number of times they can divide and function properly. Eventually, they reach a point where they stop dividing and become “senescent,” much like workers retiring from their jobs. These senescent cells are still present in the body but are no longer active and can’t carry out their usual tasks effectively.

The problem with cellular senescence is that these inactive cells can accumulate in our tissues over time and release substances that cause inflammation and harm to nearby healthy cells. This can contribute to the aging process and age-related diseases, much like having too many retirees causing trouble in a community.

So, cellular senescence in aging refers to the buildup of inactive, non-dividing cells that can negatively affect our health as we get older.