A camera can change with age and heavy use, but a sudden increase in visible noise is not usually something you’d expect from normal aging alone. One community answer notes that sensor performance can degrade over time and with a high shutter count, but if the change seems recent, it’s also worth checking for other causes.

A dirty sensor is a practical possibility, so inspect the sensor and clean it if needed. If you suspect a fault, run a simple test to check whether the sensor may be damaged.

Also consider non-hardware causes: exposure that is slightly too dark and then brightened in editing will make noise much more noticeable, even at low ISO and in bright conditions.

So the short answer is: yes, performance can degrade with age/use, but first rule out dirt, damage, and exposure/post-processing issues before assuming the sensor itself has worn out.