Ageing

Are Zombie Cells Making You Age Faster?

Are Zombie Cells Making You Age Faster?

Key Takeaways:

  1. Ageing cells, also known as senescent cells, accumulate over time and contribute to chronic inflammation, tissue damage, and age-related diseases.
  2. Clearing senescent cells improves healthspan by reducing inflammation, enhancing tissue regeneration, and lowering the risk of conditions like heart disease and diabetes.
  3. Senolytics, therapies designed to target and eliminate senescent cells, show promise in promoting healthy ageing and longevity.


Did you know that your body carries “zombie cells” that refuse to die but don’t function properly either? These cells, called senescent cells, build up as you age and can wreak havoc on your health. Scientists have discovered that clearing these cells can reverse some aspects of ageing and significantly improve health. Let’s explore how addressing ageing cells can be a game-changer for longevity and vitality.


What Are Senescent Cells?

Have you ever thought about how your body cleans up after damaged or ageing cells? Normally, your immune system removes these non-functional cells to keep your tissues healthy. But with age, some cells refuse to die—these are senescent cells. While they serve a purpose early on, their accumulation can cause significant harm. Let’s explore their role in the ageing process and how managing them can transform your health.


The Role of Senescent Cells in the Ageing Process

Senescent cells are damaged or aged cells that lose their ability to divide but remain metabolically active. While these cells initially have protective functions, like preventing cancer by halting uncontrolled cell division, their prolonged presence can be harmful. Over time, they secrete inflammatory molecules, known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which damages surrounding healthy cells.


The Problem with Accumulated Senescent Cells

As you age, your immune system becomes less efficient at clearing these cells, leading to their accumulation in tissues. This build-up contributes to chronic inflammation, tissue dysfunction, and the onset of age-related diseases like arthritis, cardiovascular disease, and even cancer (R).


Clearing Ageing Cells

 

The Benefits of Clearing Ageing Cells

Imagine if you could clean out the cellular “junk” that clogs your body’s repair processes. Clearing senescent cells does exactly that, improving inflammation, tissue repair, and even your overall healthspan. This isn’t just about living longer—it’s about living better. Let’s break down how reducing these zombie cells can have a profound impact on your vitality and longevity.


Reduced Chronic Inflammation

Eliminating senescent cells decreases SASP activity, significantly lowering inflammation levels throughout your body. Chronic inflammation, often called “inflammageing,” is a major driver of diseases like diabetes and Alzheimer’s (R).


Enhanced Tissue Repair and Regeneration

Senescent cells interfere with the natural regenerative capacity of tissues. Removing these cells allows stem cells to function optimally, promoting faster healing and the restoration of tissue integrity (R).


Longevity and Disease Prevention

Research in mice has shown that removing senescent cells extends lifespan and healthspan. By reducing the burden of these cells, you may be able to delay or prevent age-related illnesses, allowing you to enjoy a higher quality of life for longer (R).


Senolytics: A Breakthrough in Anti-Ageing Science

What if there were a way to target and eliminate the senescent cells in your body? Enter senolytics—an exciting frontier in longevity science. These compounds hold the promise of turning back the clock on ageing, one cell at a time. Let’s dive into the science and discover how senolytics could change the future of healthy ageing.


What Are Senolytics?

Senolytics are a class of drugs or natural compounds that selectively target and eliminate senescent cells. These therapies are currently under investigation for their potential to mitigate the effects of ageing and enhance overall health (R).


onions - senolytic

 

Promising Senolytic Compounds

  • Quercetin: A flavonoid found in foods like apples and onions, known for its ability to target senescent cells and reduce inflammation (R).
  • Dasatinib: A pharmaceutical drug shown to clear senescent cells effectively when combined with quercetin (R).
  • Fisetin: A natural compound found in strawberries and persimmons, which has shown promising anti-senescence effects in preclinical studies (R).


Practical Ways to Support Cellular Health

Feeling inspired to take control of your cellular health? While senolytic therapies are still being developed, there’s plenty you can do right now to reduce the burden of senescent cells. From diet to exercise to targeted supplements, small lifestyle changes can go a long way in supporting your body’s natural defences. Let’s explore how you can start making these changes today.


Adopt a Senescence-Reducing Lifestyle

Your lifestyle choices can significantly impact the rate at which senescent cells accumulate:

  • Eat a Nutrient-Dense Diet: Focus on anti-inflammatory foods rich in antioxidants, such as berries, leafy greens, and nuts (R).
  • Stay Active: Regular exercise has been shown to promote immune function and reduce inflammation, helping your body clear damaged cells (R).
  • Get Quality Sleep: Sleep plays a vital role in cellular repair and immune function, both of which are essential for managing senescent cells (R).


Supplements to Consider

Some supplements may support your body’s natural ability to manage cellular ageing:

NMN and NR: 

NMN and NR are NAD+ precursors essential for cellular energy, DNA repair, and mitochondrial health. As NAD+ declines with age, supplementation restores its levels, enhancing mitochondrial function, reducing oxidative stress, and activating sirtuins, which support DNA repair and reduce inflammation. These effects help mitigate cellular ageing and senescence (R).

Resveratrol: 

Resveratrol, a polyphenol in grapes and red wine, boosts SIRT1 activity to improve mitochondrial function and reduce inflammation, while suppressing SASP inflammatory cytokines to mitigate the impact of senescent cells (R).

Curcumin:

Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is known for its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, which support healthy ageing by inhibiting inflammatory pathways like NF-kB in senescent cells, reducing their harmful effects. It also promotes cellular repair by mitigating oxidative stress, a key driver of cellular damage and ageing (R).


What’s Next in Senescence Research?

While the concept of clearing senescent cells is still evolving, ongoing clinical trials aim to refine senolytic therapies for human use. Early results are promising, with potential applications extending beyond ageing to conditions like fibrosis, neurodegeneration, and cancer (R).


Are Zombie Cells Making You Age Faster?

 

A Brighter Future for Healthy Ageing

By addressing senescent cells, you can reduce inflammation, promote tissue repair, and improve overall vitality. Whether through lifestyle changes, supplements, or future senolytic therapies, the path to healthier ageing starts with understanding and managing these “zombie cells.”


Curious to learn more about maintaining optimal cellular health? Read our blog on The Top Supplements for Longevity to discover more ways to support your journey to a vibrant, long life.

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Written By Natasha Jordan

BHSc Qualification in Nutritional Medicine, Postgraduate Degree in Public Health, Registered & Accredited through ANTA

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