Most of what we think we know about ageing comes from outdated assumptions: we picture a gradual decline, with less energy and slower recovery, more “can’ts”, but today’s research paints a very different picture. Ageing isn’t a single switch that flips one day; it’s a collection of biological processes that can be slowed, supported, and even partially reversed.
In other words, how you age is not written in stone. The latest breakthroughs in cellular health show that your lifestyle, nutrition, environment, and supplementation play a much greater role than genetics alone. The better you care for your cells, the more time and vitality you get back.
Here are five persistent myths about ageing that may be holding you back from living, and feeling, ageless.
Myth 1: Ageing is entirely genetic
You might have inherited your eye colour from your parents, but not necessarily their lifespan. While genes do influence how you age and active ageing, studies suggest that only about 20 to 25 percent of longevity is determined by DNA. The rest is up to daily choices: movement, diet, sleep, stress, and environmental exposure.
Every cell in your body has built-in maintenance systems designed to repair damage, clear out waste, and keep energy flowing. As you age, these systems can become less efficient, but they don’t stop. The decline often comes from cumulative stress, nutrient deficits, and lower NAD⁺ (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide) levels, a molecule central to energy production and DNA repair.
Supporting NAD⁺ through precursors like NMN (nicotinamide mononucleotide) helps keep those cellular pathways active. In simple terms: genetics set the blueprint, but your habits decide whether the structure thrives or crumbles.
Myth 2: It’s too late to start caring about longevity
One of the most persistent misconceptions about ageing is that you’ve missed your chance if you didn’t start young. Science says otherwise: studies show that people who adopt new healthy habits even in their 60s or 70s can see rapid improvements in muscle strength, energy, and cognitive function. The body doesn’t forget how to heal; it just needs a reminder.
Building muscle through resistance training improves balance for active ageing. Getting seven to eight hours of sleep helps the brain clear metabolic waste through the glymphatic system. Even adding more colour to your plate - leafy greens, berries, olive oil - can shift inflammation markers within weeks. What matters most is consistency. The longer you maintain these habits, the more your biology begins to “reset” toward youthful function.
The sooner you start, the bigger the payoff, but it’s never too late to make meaningful change. The capacity for renewal is built into your cells; your job is to give them the conditions to use it.
Myth 3: Losing energy with age is inevitable
Fatigue feels like the hallmark of getting older, but it’s not inevitable, it’s biochemical. That’s because of sluggish mitochondria, the tiny organelles that turn food into cellular energy (ATP). With age, oxidative stress, poor diet, and inactivity make them less efficient, leaving you drained.
The fix is movement, not rest. High-intensity exercise and strength training encourage the body to build new mitochondria, a process known as mitochondrial biogenesis. Add in whole foods rich in magnesium, B-vitamins, and antioxidants (think leafy greens, legumes, seeds, and brightly coloured vegetables), and your cells regain the raw materials they need to generate power.
Sleep also plays a role in active ageing: most mitochondrial repair occurs overnight. Prioritising recovery allows energy systems to rebuild instead of running on fumes.
Aging well isn’t about saving energy, it’s about producing it better.
Myth 4: Supplements and routines can’t change the ageing process
There’s a difference between chasing youth and supporting longevity. No supplement can stop time, but that doesn’t mean nothing helps. Modern research on cellular metabolism, inflammation, and repair shows that certain nutrients can support active ageing, from omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin D to polyphenols in olive oil, cacao, and green tea.
Compounds that maintain healthy NAD⁺, CoQ10, or glutathione levels help cells stay efficient at energy production and detoxification. Likewise, adaptogens like Ashwagandha or Rhodiola can help balance cortisol, easing the wear-and-tear effect of chronic stress.
The real secret isn’t one “anti-ageing” product, it’s synergy. Supplements and routines work when they complement the fundamentals: movement, sleep, sunlight, purpose, and stress management. Together, they shape how your cells respond to life’s challenges.
Think of it as maintenance, not magic: you’re not rewriting your biology, you’re helping it run the way it was designed to.
Myth 5: Looking younger means you’re ageing well
Smooth skin can feel like proof of health, but it’s only surface-level. Real longevity and active ageing come from the inside: stable energy, emotional resilience, metabolic balance, and a sharp mind.
Cellular ageing happens when repair processes fall behind damage. You can’t see it in the mirror, but you can feel it in how quickly you recover, how clearly you think, how steady your mood is. Practices that build resilience from within (exercise, quality nutrition, mindful stress relief) inevitably show on the outside too.
Your skin, hair, and posture all reflect deeper biological rhythms like collagen synthesis and mitochondrial efficiency. Feed those processes, and radiance becomes a reflection of inner balance, not a cosmetic trick.
When your body’s internal systems run smoothly, glow becomes a side effect, not the goal.
Reframing Ageing
The biggest myth of all might be that ageing is something to fight. In truth, it’s something to understand. Once you see it as a living process - dynamic, flexible, and responsive - you gain influence over it. You can’t turn back the clock, but you can slow its tick by supporting the biology that keeps you strong, mobile, and mentally clear.
Healthy and active ageing isn’t about chasing youth; it’s about sustaining vitality, and building habits that allow your future self to keep doing the things you love, like hiking with friends, learning new skills, laughing easily, waking up energised. When you treat longevity as an everyday practice, not a distant goal, the results are cumulative and deeply rewarding.
Where Ageless NMN Fits In
As we age, our cells naturally produce less NAD⁺, a coenzyme vital for energy metabolism and DNA repair. Supporting those pathways can help maintain focus, stamina, and resilience, which is why Ageless NMN exists.
Formulated to replenish NAD⁺ levels efficiently, Ageless NMN supports the same foundations that counter every myth in this list: it helps your body generate steady energy (not inevitable fatigue), sustain cellular repair (not decline), and stay responsive to healthy habits at any age.
And remember, every Ageless NMN Powder delivery also includes a free TMG Powder, designed to work in synergy and support methylation - the essential process that helps your body use NMN effectively for sustained energy and active ageing.