What is the Origin of System Faults?

This term is borrowed from engineering and systems analysis, applying a diagnostic framework to human biology that views the body as a complex, interconnected system. It emphasizes that symptoms often arise from upstream regulatory failures, or 'faults,' rather than simple, isolated organ failure. This perspective is foundational to systems diagnosis.

What is the Mechanism of System Faults?

System faults manifest as breakdowns in critical biological processes, including chronic low-grade inflammation, impaired cellular signaling, mitochondrial dysfunction, or dysregulation of the HPA axis. For example, chronic high cortisol represents a fault in the HPA axis feedback loop, leading to cascading effects on metabolic and immune function. Identifying and correcting these underlying regulatory failures is the essence of clinical intervention.

System Faults ∞ Area

System Faults

Meaning

Measurable deviations or disruptions within core physiological networks, such as the neuroendocrine, metabolic, or immune systems, that impede optimal function and contribute to the pathology of aging or disease. These faults are not necessarily overt diseases but subtle, cumulative impairments in regulatory mechanisms, often identified through advanced biomarker analysis. Addressing these faults is the primary focus of preventative and longevity medicine.