With a focus on extending and improving the human lifespan, the medical community continues to explore potential avenues in longevity. One such development has directed increased attention to the practice of senolytics – or, the process of flushing senescent cells from the body to discard harmful proteins. Senescent cells are malfunctioning, aged cells which can trigger inflammation and dysfunction, developed in response to disease, injury, or cancerous formations.
These cells can remain in the body, contributing to the development of many diseases and features of aging, such as heart disease, dementia, osteoporosis, and lung disease. Removing senescent cells from mice was found to alleviate insulin resistance, cell dysfunction, and ameliorate other complications in cases of kidney failure and disease.