Key strategies to rejuvenate aged stem cells and extend healthspan and lifespan include physical exercise, diet manipulation, targeting senescence, autophagy, epigenetic reprogramming, and using circulating blood factors. These methods enhance tissue homeostasis and regenerative capacity, potentially improving overall health and longevity.
April 2024 – FEBS Letters
Key takeaways
- Physical exercise and diet manipulation: Regular physical exercise has been shown to increase the number and regenerative capacity of muscle stem cells, while diet interventions like calorie restriction and fasting can enhance stem cell function in various tissues, promoting a more youthful state
- Targeting cellular senescence and promoting autophagy: Removing senescent cells through senolytic drugs can restore the functionality of aged stem cells while enhancing autophagy—a process that clears out damaged cellular components—helps rejuvenate stem cells and maintain their regenerative abilities
- Epigenetic reprogramming and circulating blood factors: Epigenetic reprogramming techniques, such as inducing Yamanaka factors, can reverse ageing signs in stem cells, while the use of young blood or its components can rejuvenate aged tissues, demonstrating the potential of these approaches in improving stem cell function
Integrating physical exercise, diet manipulation, senescence targeting, autophagy promotion, and epigenetic reprogramming can synergistically improve tissue homeostasis and stem cell function, leading to enhanced healthspan and potentially extending lifespan by preserving the body’s regenerative capacity.
Read the article at: Matteini, Francesca, et al. “Rejuvenating Aged Stem Cells: Therapeutic Strategies to Extend Health and Lifespan.” FEBS Letters, 2024, doi:10.1002/1873-3468.14865.
