Senolytic Drugs Boost Protein That Protects Against Effects of Aging
18th March 2022
Senolytics are an emerging class of drugs designed to target zombie-like cells that have stopped dividing and build up in the body as we age, and the past few years have seen some exciting discoveries that demonstrate their potential. Adding another to the list are Mayo Clinic researchers, who have shown that these drugs can protect against aging and its related diseases, by acting on a protein long associated with longevity.
The zombie-like cells involved in this research are known as senescent cells, and their accumulation during aging is associated with a range of diseases. Recent studies have shown that using senolytics to clear them out could serve as new and effective treatments for dementia and diabetes, and also improve health and lifespan more broadly.
A chemical recently dsicovered in grape seeds, Procyanidin C1, has this effect. Grapeseed extract can be purchased commercially as a nutritional supplement.