A longevity doctor says this is the No. 1 mistake that will ‘make you age faster’

While aging is not fully understood, it can be broken down into two categories: intrinsic and extrinsic.

Intrinsic aging is due to genetic factors, while extrinsic aging can be attributed to lifestyle choices like alcohol consumption, smoking, diet, exercise and stress management.

As a longevity and regenerative medicine doctor, I help executives, athletes and celebrities biohack their bodies and improve their health through extrinsic factors.

Based on my experience, I’ve found that poor sleep quality is the No. 1 mistake that will make you age faster:

With our fast-paced lives, sleep is often sacrificed whether by choice or necessity. Mounting evidence shows that quality sleep is the key to a healthy life.

When we sleep, the body heals itself. Sleeping seven to eight hours a night helps improve cellular and tissue health, cognitive function, immunity, energy levels and metabolism.

Meanwhile, sleep deficiency can cause a variety of health issues, including high blood pressure, depression, obesity, stroke, diabetes and heart disease.

A lack of sleep can also cause:

1. Wrinkles and premature skin aging

Our skin is made up of several proteins, including collagen and elastin, that help keep it firm and plump as we age.

Some research suggests that insufficient sleep could affect the quality and strength of both collagen and elastin, which can lead to wrinkles and skin laxity, or sagging.

2. Cognitive impairment

In the short term, lack of sleep can cause a decline in motor skills, slow down information processing, reduce our attention spans and emotional capacity, and impair our judgement.

Over the long term, sleep issues can lead to a higher risk of cognitive decline, impaired memory and Alzheimer’s disease.

3. Weakened immunity

Our body’s first line of defense is our immune system.

During sleep, our immune system produces cells that help the body fight off pathogens that can make us sick. At the end of a sleep cycle, the cells migrate to parts of…