We are born. We grow up to become adults. We reach a peak of functionality and capability. Then we start a long slow slide into weakness, sickness, and ultimately to death by “old age.” Old Age is effectively synonymous with chronic diseases and disability. Those chronic diseases are all too familiar to people who have entered their “golden years” or who know someone who has. They include:

• Dementia
• Cancer
• Cardiovascular disease
• Lung disease
• Osteoporosis
• Arthritis
• Diabetes
• Renal failure
• Blindness
• Frailty

As people age, the number of these conditions that they exhibit increases inexorably. A contributing factor is a process occurring at the cellular level called cellular senescence. The human body is made up of cells. Normal cells of a multitude of types, such as brain cells, liver cells, and skin cells, perform all the important functions of the body. They also replicate, to replace cells that are worn out or damaged. Another kind of cell, which is not normal at all, is a cancer cell. These cells are normal cells that have been altered, perhaps by radiation, or maybe by an environmental toxin, that have no purpose other than to survive and to replicate, which they are very good at doing. There is a third category of cell, which was first discovered in 1961, called a senescent cell. A senescent cell was once a normal cell, but it no longer performs its original function and no longer replicates itself. Such cells are not destroyed by the immune system like damaged cells are. Instead they accumulate and secrete toxic substances that damage the normal cells in their vicinity. The sites in the body that exhibit the pathologies of aging are often places where concentrations of senescent cells can be found.

Cell senescence triggers changes in gene expression, turning some on and others off. This alters cell function and metabolism.  As a result, toxins are secreted that cause inflammation. Chronic inflammation causes damage that leads to many of the maladies listed above. Fundamental aging processes appear to be interlinked, with cellular senescence at the root of the tree of diseases of aging.

If we could clear the body of the accumulation of senescent cells that has built up, we might be able to forestall a host of diseases rather than curing just one of them  This approach is currently being studied with a class of drugs and other interventions called senolytics. These drugs selectively eliminate senescent cells, without damaging normal healthy cells.

Many compounds are currently being tested for senolytic activity. It is too soon to tell which might be most effective, and which might have the least amount of unwanted side effects. However, some are drugs that are already approved for treating other conditions, and some are even nutritional supplements. Among the drugs that appear to be effective is dasatinib, particularly when it is combined with quercetin, which is a dietary supplement that can be obtained without a prescription. Another apparently effective flavonoid is named fisetin.  Quercetin is found in many foods, including red wine, onions, green tea, apples and berries. It is also a component of the ginkgo biloba supplement. Fisetin is also found in many fruits and vegetables, most notably strawberries, apples, and grapes. The combination of dasatinib and quercetin seems to be more effective than is either substance when taken by itself. Dasatinib is a drug developed to treat leukemia. It may have severe side effects in some people. This may be considered an acceptable risk for leukemia patients, but not necessarily for people who merely wants to reduce their senescent cell burden.

Considerable research is currently being conducted to find safe and effective senolytics. While waiting for the results of those tests to come in, it may make sense to add strawberries, apples, and grapes to your diet, and maybe even a little red wine.

BIO:

Allen G. Taylor is a 40-year veteran of the computer industry and the author of over 40 books, including Develop Microsoft HoloLens Apps Now, Get Fit with Apple Watch, Cruise for Free, SQL For Dummies, 9th Edition, Crystal Reports 2008 For Dummies, Database Development For Dummies, Access Power Programming with VBA, and SQL All-In-One For Dummies, Third Edition. He lectures internationally on astronomy, databases, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He also teaches database development and Crystal Reports through a leading online education provider. For the latest news on Allen’s activities, check out his blog at wwwallengtaylor.com or contact him at allen.taylor@ieee.org.