Intermittent senolytic therapy with dasatinib and quercetin showed no significant decrease in bone resorption in postmenopausal women overall. However, women with a higher senescent cell burden experienced enhanced bone formation and density, highlighting the potential role of senescent cells in therapeutic outcomes.
July 2024 – Nature Medicine
Key takeaways
- Senolytic drugs improve bone health in individuals with a high senescent cell burden: Senescent cells, often termed “zombie cells,” accumulate with age and can contribute to tissue dysfunction. By targeting these cells with senolytic drugs like dasatinib and quercetin, individuals with a higher burden of senescence experienced enhanced bone mineral density and formation. This suggests that certain age-related bone issues could be alleviated by removing senescent cells, thereby promoting healthier ageing
- Lack of improvement in those with fewer senescent cells: The benefits of senolytic treatments seem to be limited to individuals with a significant build-up of senescent cells. Postmenopausal women with lower levels of these cells did not show noticeable changes in bone health, indicating that senolytic therapies may not be universally effective and should be considered for those with more pronounced senescence
- Targeted treatments may maximise longevity benefits: Since the benefits of senolytic drugs appear to vary depending on an individual’s senescent cell load, personalised treatment approaches may be necessary. By tailoring senolytic interventions to those most likely to benefit, such as those with higher senescent cell accumulation, there is potential to optimise outcomes for longevity and healthier ageing
Cellular senescence is a hallmark of ageing, contributing to chronic inflammation, tissue dysfunction, and other age-related declines. Senolytic therapies hold promise for mitigating these issues by specifically eliminating these dysfunctional cells. This could support overall healthspan extension by reducing the negative effects of cellular ageing, potentially delaying or reversing some aspects of age-related degeneration.
Read the article at: Justice, Joshua N., et al. “Effects of Intermittent Senolytic Therapy on Bone Metabolism in Postmenopausal Women: A Phase 2 Randomized Controlled Trial.” Nature Medicine, vol. 30, 2024, doi:10.1038/s41591-024-03096-2.