New approaches to the biology of #senescence can make lives longer and healthier. #aging #senolytics LIFE EXPECTANCY IN the best-performing countries has been increasing by three months per year every year since the early 1800s. Throughout most of human history, you had a roughly 50–50 chance of making it into your twenties, mainly due to deaths from infectious diseases and accidents. Thanks to medical advances, we’ve gradually found ways to avoid and treat such causes of dea

#senescence #COVID19 #coronavirus #aging #inflammation Targeting senescent cells using senolytic drugs before or after coronavirus exposure significantly reduced mortality, cellular senescence, & inflammatory markers & increased anti-viral antibodies in old mice. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the pronounced vulnerability of the elderly and chronically-ill to SARS-CoV-2-induced morbidity and mortality. Cellular senescence contributes to inflammation, multiple chronic dise

#senescence #aging Researchers have discovered a novel, non-invasive biomarker (15-deoxy-delta-12, 14-prostaglandin J2; dihomo-15d-PGJ2) that can be used to measure & track performance of senolytics: a class of drugs that selectively eliminate senescent cells. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-04-non-invasive-biomarker-track-efficacy-senolytic.html

Glutamine has a host of metabolic functions, including biosynthesis, redox maintenance, and chromatin biology. Drugs are currently available to target glutamine and related metabolism. However, the use of these compounds has been limited by finding appropriate applications because the role of #glutamine in health and disease is still poorly understood. Some studies have pointed to a limited role of glutamine #metabolism in vivo; others have found specific roles in critical ar

Researchers conducted genome-wide #CRISPR-based screens in premature aging stem cells & identified >100 candidate #senescence-promoting genes. Among them, KAT7 (a histone acetyltransferase) was identified as a top target involved in cellular senescence. #aging #longevity Figure below: Gene therapy targeting Kat7 extends lifespan in naturally aged and progeria mice. https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-01-scientists-gene-therapy-strategy-aging.html

If you feel like you’re slowing down a bit as you age, you’re not alone. Many of our systems (including our brain) tend to taper off as we get older and the immune system is no exception. #aging #immunology #inflammation #senescence https://davidojcius.com/immunology-research-professor-david-ojcius-explains-the-effects-of-aging-on-our-immune-system/

Senescent cells promote NAD tissue decline during aging through CD38 enzymes which can now become a novel therapeutic target. #inflammation #aging #longevity #senescence #immunology Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD) is a crucial metabolic coenzyme and reducing cofactor for oxidising enzymes such as poly-ADP-ribose polymerases (PARPs). Low levels of NAD have been linked to aging diseases and more recently it has been established that natural NAD levels decrease with age