I've heard there's actually an "age pigment" that colors the cells inside our body an ugly brown. Is this true?
Actually, yes, but not all cells are affected. Lipofuscin is an "age pigment" that accumulates in certain parts of the body. The nervous system is affected the most, especially the cells of the brain, spinal column, and nerve tissue. The nondividing cells of muscle fibers (including the heart) are also affected. In fact, the age of the heart can be determined by how much lipofuscin is present.
It is a yellowish-brown pigment and does collect as we age. Lipofuscin is left over from the breakdown and absorption of damaged blood cells. It is also found as a fatty byproduct of cell metabolism. It's what gives earwax its distinctive color.
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