To what level do phono cartridges age?

I’ve seen a few threads on this subject but I’ve not seen anything definitive.  I’ve heard that the internal components of phono cartridges deteriorate over time regardless of their use.  Am I “on a clock” with regards to my cartridge?  Is it a case of “use it or lose it”.  Or, should a high end cartridge last as long as the stylus is in good condition and not overly worn?  Btw...I currently have a Linn Kandid installed on a Linn LP12.