Senolytic Therapies for Aging

Senescent cells accumulate with age and secrete inflammatory compounds linked to cardiovascular disease and Alzheimer's disease. Senolytics are drugs designed to selectively clear these 'zombie cells.' In lab studies, a combination of dasatinib and quercetin extended healthy lifespan in mice, and early Mayo Clinic human trials of senolytics showed improvements in physical function in small patient groups. Clinical results in this field have been mixed — Unity Biotechnology's senolytic program for knee osteoarthritis did not succeed in later-stage trials, a reminder that promising mouse and early-trial data don't always translate. Senolytics remain one of the most closely watched approaches to treating aging processes directly rather than individual age-related diseases.