Found the main possible factor of biological aging

Sensational discovery: British scientists have uncovered the secret of body aging. A research group from Cambridge University has established that necrosis — uncontrolled cell death — may be a key factor in biological aging. The revolutionary research results have been published in the prestigious scientific journal Oncogene.

Scientists have studied in detail the destructive nature of necrosis as a chaotic process of cell death that causes inflammation, damages surrounding tissues, and contributes to the development of chronic diseases. In contrast to apoptosis — an organized and "clean" form of cell death — necrosis is accompanied by rupture of cell membranes, destruction of DNA, and disorderly release of intracellular contents.

"Necrosis is not just a consequence of aging, it may be its key mechanism," emphasized the lead author of the study, Karina Kern, founder of the British biotechnology company LinkGevity.

"With age, cells become increasingly vulnerable to necrosis, which leads to accumulation of damage, decreased body resistance, and acceleration of biological decline," the scientist explained.

As part of the study, the scientific team analyzed the impact of necrosis on the development of various pathologies, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, and neurodegenerative processes. The destructive effects of necrosis were particularly evident in aggressive forms of oncological diseases, where uncontrolled cell death contributed to tumor growth, stimulated the formation of new blood vessels, and created immune instability.

Researchers believe that targeting the processes that trigger necrosis — in particular, the disruption of calcium balance in cells — may open a new direction in the therapy of chronic and age-related diseases. Despite the fact that previous attempts to block calcium channels (for example, in strokes) did not bring the expected results, a deeper understanding of the mechanism of necrosis itself opens promising possibilities for future medical developments.