Zombie cells are damaged cells that stop dividing but refuse to die. Normally, healthy cells divide to repair tissues and maintain organ function.
When damaged, they enter a state called cellular senescence—a natural defence mechanism that prevent faulty cells from dividing and potentially causing harm, such as cancer.
While protective in the short term, issues arise when zombie cells accumulate due to:
- Increased production caused by ongoing damage from lifestyle habits or external factors.
- Decreased removal as your body’s ability to identify and clear senescent cells weakens with age.
In fact, the accumulation of zombie cells is now recognised as a hallmark of ageing. In a nutshell:
- Inflammation and damage: Zombie cells release inflammatory molecules that harm nearby healthy cells and can convert them into more zombie cells, creating a vicious cycle.
- Disrupted tissue repair: Zombie cells interfere with tissue repair by inhibiting healthy cell growth and impairing stem cell function, reducing the body's ability to produce new cells.
- Immune system burden: Their build-up overwhelms the immune system, weakening its ability to maintain healthy tissues.
Over time, these effects contribute to ageing, chronic inflammation, and diseases like arthritis, Alzheimer’s, and other degenerative conditions.