HealthScience DailyMayo Clinic discovers new ways to fight the “zombie” cells that drive aging
Mayo Clinic scientists have published seven studies revealing new insights into how so-called zombie cells drive ageing and how they might one day be targeted with therapies.
Mayo Clinic scientists have uncovered surprising new insights into “zombie cells,” aging cells that linger in the body and contribute to inflammation and disease. Seven studies reveal why these cells are harmful and identify new strategies for targeting them, including a natural compound found in tomatoes. In aging mice, experimental treatments reduced inflammation and improved physical and brain health. The findings could open the door to therapies that combat some of the biological processes behind aging.
Scientists at Mayo Clinic's Kogod Center on Aging published seven studies in Nature journals examining senescent cells, the ageing cells linked to inflammation and disease.
The research found these zombie cells are far more varied than previously understood, and the team developed a tool called SenMayo to identify them more reliably across different tissues.
Researchers say the findings lay the groundwork for new therapies that could support healthy ageing by precisely targeting the harmful cells, though treatments are not yet available.
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