Apoptosis

Apoptosis is a tightly controlled form of programmed cell death. The cell is taken apart in an orderly way, by enzymes called caspases. It usually does not spark inflammation, because the cell does not burst (unlike necrosis or pyroptosis). Apoptosis clears out damaged, infected, or surplus cells, the ones your body needs to remove. It is essential for normal development, for keeping tissues balanced, and for suppressing tumors. With age, apoptosis shifts in tissue- and context-specific ways. In some tissues, that means damaged or senescent cells are cleared less well. In others, it means too much cell loss, leading to atrophy and neurodegeneration.

Last reviewed: June 22, 2026

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