A form of cell death long dismissed as biological debris may in fact be the missing link in efforts to slow aging, treat chronic illness, and support human survival in deep space.
Scientists from University College London (UCL), biotech firm LinkGevity, and the European Space Agency (ESA) argue that necrosis—a chaotic type of unprogrammed cell death—should be viewed not as an endpoint, but as a critical trigger for tissue damage and systemic decline.
Dr Keith Siew, one of the study authors, says, “Nobody really likes talking about death, even cell death, which is perhaps why the physiology of death is so poorly understood. And in a way necrosis is death. If enough cells die, then tissues die, then we die. The question is what would happen if we could pause or stop necrosis.”
“Necrosis remains one of the last frontiers in medicine – a common thread across aging, disease, space biology, and scientific progress itself,” adds Dr Carina Kern, lead author of the study.
Why necrosis matters
Necrosis occurs when cells are overwhelmed by injury, infection, or stress. The process floods cells with calcium, disrupting vital functions and causing the cell to rupture. This sudden collapse spills toxic molecules into surrounding tissue, triggering inflammation and accelerating damage.
Unlike programmed cell death, which follows a tidy dismantling routine, necrosis is messy—and contagious. One dying cell can spark a chain reaction in its neighbors, compounding degeneration over time. Researchers believe this may explain how chronic diseases such as Alzheimer’s, kidney failure, and cardiovascular decline intensify with age.
Dr Siew says, “When cells die, it’s not always a peaceful process for the neighbours.”
Dr Kern explains: “Necrosis has been hiding in plain sight. As a final stage of cell death, it’s been largely overlooked. But mounting evidence shows it’s far more than an endpoint. It’s a central mechanism through which systemic degeneration not only arises but also spreads. That makes it a critical point of convergence across many diseases.”
“If we can target necrosis, we could unlock entirely new ways to treat conditions ranging from kidney failure to cardiac disease, neurodegeneration, and even aging itself.”
Dr Kern added, “In many age-related diseases – affecting diverse organs such as the lungs, kidneys, liver, brain, and cardiovascular system – relentless cascades of necrosis fuel the progression of disease. This is often alongside impaired healing that leads to fibrosis, inflammation and damaged cells. Each cascade triggers and amplifies the next.
Stopping degeneration, on Earth and beyond
Necrosis may also present a significant obstacle to human space exploration. During spaceflight, astronauts face accelerated aging caused by microgravity and cosmic radiation. A 2024 study involving Dr Siew found that kidney function rapidly deteriorates in low-gravity environments, raising concerns that long-duration missions could push the organ past its limit.
Professor Damian Bailey said: “Targeting necrosis offers potential to not only transform longevity on Earth but also push the frontiers of space exploration. In space, the same factors that cause aging on Earth are made worse by cosmic radiation and microgravity – speeding up degeneration dramatically.”
“If we could prevent necrosis, even temporarily, we would be shutting down these destructive cycles at their source, enabling normal physiological processes and cell division to resume – and potentially even allowing for regeneration,” concluded Dr. Kern.