# DNA damage

DNA damage is any chemical or structural change to your genome. It includes base modifications, single- and double-strand breaks, and crosslinks. It comes from reactive oxygen species, ionizing radiation, UV light, and replication stress. Your cells fight back through DNA-damage repair pathways. But when those are overwhelmed, the damage triggers senescence, apoptosis, or mutations. Genomic instability, driven by accumulated DNA damage, is a recognized hallmark of aging, and a driver of cancer.

## Sources

- Hoeijmakers. (2009). DNA damage, aging, and cancer. New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMra0804615
- Jackson & Bartek. (2009). The DNA-damage response in human biology and disease. Nature. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature08467

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_Canonical: https://longevity-switzerland.com/en/glossary/dna-damage · Part of Longevity Cities · Updated 2026-06-22_