A longevity expert highlights the significance of fingernails as a marker for understanding one’s aging process.
Many people associate aging with the simple passage of time—each birthday marking another year gone by. However, Dr. David Sinclair, a longevity specialist, suggests paying attention to fingernails to gauge the speed of aging and potentially the lifespan.
In health matters, fingernails often get overlooked as more focus is usually placed on overall fitness, cardiovascular and pulmonary health, or dietary habits.
Dr. Sinclair, a genetics expert at Harvard Medical School, emphasizes that the condition of one’s nails can reflect how rapidly the body is producing new healthy cells.
The faster that cellular regeneration occurs, the better shielded a person might be from the effects of aging.
Biological aging refers to the apparent age of cells and tissues based on their functional performance, which may not necessarily align with chronological age.
On his podcast, Lifespan, Dr. Sinclair stated, “The rate of your nail growth is a really good indicator of how you’re ageing or not ageing.
“I do pay attention to whether my nails are slowing down in their growth or not. Every time I have to cut my nails, I’m thinking, ‘how long ago did I cut my nails?'”
He referred to a 1979 study during the podcast that monitored fingernail growth in hundreds of individuals over time.
The findings indicated that the rate of nail growth decreased by approximately 0.5 percent per year starting at age 30.
If nails grow faster than this rate, it might suggest a slower aging process than average.
Moreover, nails can also serve as indicators for more serious health conditions.
Experts recommend that individuals pay attention to any changes in nail shape or color. For example, a black spot beneath the nail may be a sign of cancer, and white spots or lines can indicate deficiencies in essential nutrients such as calcium, iron, or zinc.