Out with the old cells and in with the new may delay the onset of age-related disorders and disabilities, according to a new Mayo Clinic study reported by HealthDay.
The study, performed using mice, provides evidence that "senescent" or old "deadbeat" cells contribute to aging, and that getting rid of them may help people stay healthier as they age.
"Our discovery demonstrates that in our body, cells are accumulating that cause these age-related disorders and discomforts," says senior author Jan van Deursen, Ph.D. "Therapeutic interventions to get rid of senescent cells or block their effects may represent an avenue to make us feel more vital, healthier, and allow us to stay independent for a much longer time."
The Mayo scientists devised a way to target for destruction just the senescent cells, which make up about 10 to 15 percent of all cells in the elderly, while leaving normal cells alone. (Senescent cells produce chemicals that damage healthy cells and trigger harmful inflammation.) After the old cells are eliminated, the onset of age-related disorders is delayed, including cataracts, muscle loss, and weakness.
"By attacking these cells and what they produce, one day we may be able to break the link between aging mechanisms and predisposition to diseases like heart disease, stroke, cancers and dementia," says co-author James Kirkland, M.D., Ph.D. "There is potential for a fundamental change in the way we provide treatment for chronic diseases in older people."
To read the entire HealthDay story, go here.