Found the main possible factor of biological aging

British scientists have made a breakthrough in understanding the mechanisms of aging. Researchers from Cambridge University have concluded that necrosis - an uncontrolled form of cell death - may be a fundamental factor in biological aging. The results of this important study were published in the prestigious scientific journal Oncogene.

The specialists described in detail the destructive nature of necrosis as a chaotic process of cell death that provokes inflammation, damages surrounding tissues, and contributes to the development of chronic diseases. Unlike apoptosis - an orderly and "clean" form of cell death - necrosis is characterized by rupture of cell membranes, DNA fragmentation, and disorderly release of intracellular contents.

"Necrosis is not just a consequence of aging, it may be its key mechanism," said 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 resilience of the organism, and acceleration of biological decline," the scientist explained.

During the study, the scientific team examined the influence of necrosis on the development of various pathologies, including cancer, cardiovascular diseases, kidney diseases, and neurodegenerative processes. The destructive impact of necrosis was especially pronounced 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.

The 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.