Key points from article :
A new study published in Oncogene suggests that necrosis—an uncontrolled form of cell death—is not just a consequence of disease or injury but a key driver of aging and chronic conditions. Scientists from UCL, NASA’s Space-Health program, and other global institutes argue that stopping necrosis could help delay or treat diseases like kidney failure, heart disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Researchers focused on calcium’s role in necrosis, showing how its imbalance causes cells to rupture and spill toxic materials, damaging nearby tissues and triggering inflammation. Unlike controlled cell death, which helps the body renew itself, necrosis leads to long-term tissue damage and aging-related problems.
The study points to kidneys as a major site of necrosis-related damage. By age 75, nearly half of people develop kidney disease, often because stressors like inflammation or low oxygen push cells into necrosis, creating a feedback loop that worsens tissue function.
Spaceflight was highlighted as another area where necrosis plays a critical role. Due to radiation and zero gravity, astronauts experience rapid aging and kidney decline, and researchers believe managing necrosis could improve human survival in deep space missions.
The team behind the study includes experts from UCL, Brigham and Women’s Hospital (Harvard), Mayo Clinic, ESA, and more, signaling strong scientific backing across medicine, aging research, and space biology.
Lead author Dr. Carina Kern emphasizes that targeting necrosis could pause the destructive cycles of aging and enable better healing. Halting necrosis could be a powerful way to preserve tissue function without needing to control every cause of stress.
