When do Saiyans begin to age?

[Mr. Piccolo]

When do Saiyans begin the aging process? My understanding is that Saiyans have a longer prime than humans, but that their lifespan is similar to that of a human being. Does this mean that Saiyans are vigorous for a very long time then start to age rapidly at, say (just throwing out a number) 65? Do you think aging negatively impacts their power, as it does humans and Namekians? Any theories on how it would impact the Super Saiyan state?

[Insertclevername]

I say around their natural deterioration starts when they come closer to natural death. So at one point, lets say around 90-110 years old age range, they begin to rapidly age, both inside and out.

I don't think Super Saiyan forms cause this to occur fast, unless they abuse grade forms (and possibly SSJ3) for too long. But even Trunks, Vegeta and Gokuu don't over do it for that long, so I doubt it applies to them. Think of it like smoking cigarettes, the more/longer you do it, the more effect it will have years down the road.

[Mystic Gohan]

I believe it was stated in an interview with Akira Toriyama himself that saiyans stay in there prime longer than humans though, but they live about the same length. Correct me if I am wrong on that.

[Chuquita]

You know, the rapid-aging thing really sounds like something out of a horror story; I imagine needles and jobs would be nothing to Goku compared with the prospect of having his body suddenly and mercilessly deteriorate to the point where he would be unable to perform his martial arts, the one thing he practically lives to do.

I think Vegeta would handle it better, strangely enough. He'd just be that grumpy old guy who just does whatever he wants. Goku, I think, would actually be more likely to seek out the DB's to get his own youth back to escape the maddening boredom he'd be thrust into if he not only didn't have strong guys to fight against, but couldn't even train himself any longer. When Goku can't train and fight strong guys, he gets stir crazy.

But then, there is the DBO event from age 801 (that is, Goku and Vegeta running away together in secret to battle-to-the-death somewhere in outer space on a distant unknown planet so that they can die by each others side in glorious battle at their full strength rather than succumb to rapid-aging) that is now part of my personal head-canon. :3

Without that event though, I would think the above theory could conceivably happen.

[Michsi]

You know, the rapid-aging thing really sounds like something out of a horror story; I imagine needles and jobs would be nothing to Goku compared with the prospect of having his body suddenly and mercilessly deteriorate to the point where he would be unable to perform his martial arts, the one thing he practically lives to do.

I think Vegeta would handle it better, strangely enough. He'd just be that grumpy old guy who just does whatever he wants. Goku, I think, would actually be more likely to seek out the DB's to get his own youth back to escape the maddening boredom he'd be thrust into if he not only didn't have strong guys to fight against, but couldn't even train himself any longer. When Goku can't train and fight strong guys, he gets stir crazy.

I agree with this in that I think Goku losing his abillity to fight as being one of , if not the worst thing that could happen to him. However, I don't quite agree with the idea of him giving in to that fear and actively trying to prolong his youth. While he remains childish (and probably selfish) to the end, I do feel that he becomes something like a sage later on, the way he just knows and understands things, so I can see him accepting his fate as a mortal. Not to mention that once he dies, he'll probably be given his younger body back in the afterlife, so he just has to deal with being old for a little while

[Nazi Cola]

Probably around the 60-70s, I'd think.

[DBZGTKOSDH]

In DBO, during Age 801, Goku & Vegeta left for a final death battle because they sensed that their lives were coming to an end. Now, the way I see it, I believe that they sensed the rapid aging coming, not their actual death. Goku was physically 57 years old, and Vegeta 71 years old. What I believe is that the rapid aging comes in the beginning of the 70s (like in Vegeta's case), unless if the Saiyan has became a Super Saiyan 3, which shortens the user's life spawn, then the aging comes faster (like in Goku's case).

[Herms]

I believe it was stated in an interview with Akira Toriyama himself that saiyans stay in there prime longer than humans though, but they live about the same length. Correct me if I am wrong on that.

Yes, he says that in the Super Exciting Guide: Character Volume, and also says they age rapidly when they reach a certain age. Saiyans staying young longer than Earthlings is first mentioned in the second to last manga chapter.

[Marco Polo]

Not to mention that once he dies, he'll probably be given his younger body back in the afterlife, so he just has to deal with being old for a little while

My thoughts exactly.

[soulnova]

In DBO, during Age 801, Goku & Vegeta left for a final death battle because they sensed that their lives were coming to an end. Now, the way I see it, I believe that they sensed the rapid aging coming, not their actual death. Goku was physically 57 years old, and Vegeta 71 years old. What I believe is that the rapid aging comes in the beginning of the 70s (like in Vegeta's case), unless if the Saiyan has became a Super Saiyan 3, which shortens the user's life spawn, then the aging comes faster (like in Goku's case).

I take this exact same idea in my story (for anyone interested, check the link in my sig).

Nappa was +50 when he came to Earth. I do believe the aging starts once they reach 65-70 years and they start to show they "real" age.

With DBO and Goku leaving at 57, this is the main reason why I think SSj3 shouldn't be used by anyone else. The transformation NEEDS to have some drawback besides the little time you can use it. It actually consumed Goku's time on Earth almost completely when he was dead... that's a big red herring for what would happen to his body being alive.

[Eire]

I've always wondered how exactly rapid that process is. When they find first gray hair, they have days, months or years?
In my unfinished FF it was never estimated, since nobody saw Saiyan dying from natural cause. Once they start to deteriorate, they finish all business, throw a party where they give away all possessions and ask anybody they want to have sex with them, and ask a close friend to fight them to death. Being asked for one of this favours is regarded as a great honour, something similar to being a godfather. I think that would suit them.

[Majin Steve]

In DBO, during Age 801, Goku & Vegeta left for a final death battle because they sensed that their lives were coming to an end. Now, the way I see it, I believe that they sensed the rapid aging coming, not their actual death. Goku was physically 57 years old, and Vegeta 71 years old. What I believe is that the rapid aging comes in the beginning of the 70s (like in Vegeta's case), unless if the Saiyan has became a Super Saiyan 3, which shortens the user's life spawn, then the aging comes faster (like in Goku's case).

I take this exact same idea in my story (for anyone interested, check the link in my sig).

Nappa was +50 when he came to Earth. I do believe the aging starts once they reach 65-70 years and they start to show they "real" age.

With DBO and Goku leaving at 57, this is the main reason why I think SSj3 shouldn't be used by anyone else. The transformation NEEDS to have some drawback besides the little time you can use it. It actually consumed Goku's time on Earth almost completely when he was dead... that's a big red herring for what would happen to his body being alive.

Read that last night, not too long and pretty good.

[soulnova]

In DBO, during Age 801, Goku & Vegeta left for a final death battle because they sensed that their lives were coming to an end. Now, the way I see it, I believe that they sensed the rapid aging coming, not their actual death. Goku was physically 57 years old, and Vegeta 71 years old. What I believe is that the rapid aging comes in the beginning of the 70s (like in Vegeta's case), unless if the Saiyan has became a Super Saiyan 3, which shortens the user's life spawn, then the aging comes faster (like in Goku's case).

I take this exact same idea in my story (for anyone interested, check the link in my sig).

Read that last night, not too long and pretty good.

Thank you. I glad you liked it.

I've always wondered how exactly rapid that process is. When they find first gray hair, they have days, months or years?
In my unfinished FF it was never estimated, since nobody saw Saiyan dying from natural cause. Once they start to deteriorate, they finish all business, throw a party where they give away all possessions and ask anybody they want to have sex with them, and ask a close friend to fight them to death. Being asked for one of this favours is regarded as a great honour, something similar to being a godfather. I think that would suit them.

Yeah, I do think it would be a great honor. In my FF (spoiler!) Vegeta had started getting old and was planning on asking Kakarot in a couple of years to fight him to have a warriors death. Sadly, Goku's accelerated aging and imminent death was something unexpected and they decided to do the fight as soon as possible, for the sake of both of them, because, dammit, they wouldn't go out quietly.


Oh and yes, I can imagine old (male) Saiyans asking for sex with them and not only for fun, I bet it would be a great honor too. If they had survived that long it meant they were pretty strong. Free strong children for everyone!

[Eire]

Strange minds think alike:)
Your FF seems interesting, I must check it.

It seems logical, that race so focused on physical strength would have no sentiments for old age, and prefer to die just before they go down the slippery slope.