Skip to main content

Somatic Damage Accumulation

Meaning

Somatic damage accumulation describes the progressive buildup of molecular and cellular damage within non-reproductive body cells over a lifetime, a fundamental process driving biological aging and pathology. This damage encompasses multiple forms, including oxidative damage to lipids and proteins, mitochondrial DNA mutations, nuclear genomic instability, and the cross-linking of extracellular matrix components. The rate of this accumulation, which exceeds the body’s repair capacity, dictates the rate of functional decline and the onset of age-related disease. Minimizing this accumulating burden is a core objective of longevity interventions.