Introduction
Aging is not just the passage of time, but a complex biological process driven, among other things, by the accumulation of damaged, “stalled” cells called senescent cells. Although they stop dividing, they do not die. On the contrary, they secrete substances that cause inflammation and worsen the condition of the entire body. Can we get rid of them? Yes. And that is exactly what senotherapy is all about.
Zombie cells: senescence in a nutshell
Senescent cells are like stuck CDs — they don't do what they're supposed to, but they keep playing the inflammatory signal.
Over time, their accumulation leads to:
- chronic inflammation (inflammaging),
- increased risk of cancer,
- impaired tissue regeneration,
- faster aging of organs (brain, heart, muscles).
Senotherapeutics: a precision weapon against aging
Senolytics are substances that target senescent cells. The best known are:
- Dasatinib + quercetin (D+Q) — a combination used experimentally in human therapies,
- Fisetin — a natural flavonoid with senolytic activity (used, for example, 2 g/day for 2 days per month),
- Navitoclax — a molecule being studied in the context of heart and hematopoietic system aging.
Senomorphics, on the other hand, do not eliminate cells, but modify their inflammatory activity (e.g., metformin, rapamycin).
What do the studies show?
In animal models, senotherapeutics:
- improved insulin sensitivity and cognitive function,
- restored muscle and lung tissue regeneration,
- and prolonged average and maximum lifespan.
Initial clinical trials (Mayo Clinic, Unity Biotechnology) show the potential of this therapy in conditions such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and osteoarthritis.
Is it safe?
This is an intensive intervention. Eliminating cells is not the same as magnesium supplementation. Potential risks:
- tissue imbalance,
- interactions with medications,
- side effects with chronic use.
Therefore, pulsed dosing (e.g., only 2 days per month) is most commonly used, and inflammatory and metabolic parameters are monitored.
How does senotherapy fit into the LLMe approach?
In LLMe, we understand longevity as the harmony of biological processes.
Senolytics can:
- support autophagy, cleansing the body,
- reduce inflammation and support the action of resveratrol and spermidine,
- improve brain and mitochondrial regeneration (in combination with CDP-choline, Lion's Mane, and PQQ).
This is one of the missing pieces in a complete anti-aging strategy.
Is senotherapy for everyone?
No. It is a tool for conscious adults with:
- chronic inflammation,
- a history of COVID infection,
- signs of muscular or cognitive aging,
- a plan to optimize longevity.
Recommended under the supervision of a specialist or in a biohacking model with self-monitoring.
Summary
Sleep therapy is the future of longevity medicine. Instead of masking the symptoms of aging, it reaches into its biological foundations. It eliminates what no longer serves us — to make room for renewal.
It's not magic. It's science. But science from the future.
“We don't prolong life by force. We free it from its burdens.”
Sources:
- Kirkland, J. L., Tchkonia, T., Zhu, Y., Niedernhofer, L. J., & Robbins, P. D. (2017). The Clinical Potential of Senolytic Drugs. Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, 65(10), 2297–2301.
- Zhu, Y., Tchkonia, T., Pirtskhalava, T., et al. (2015). The Achilles' heel of senescent cells: from transcriptome to senolytic drugs. Aging Cell, 14(4), 644–658.
- Xu, M., Palmer, A. K., Ding, H., et al. (2018). Targeting senescent cells enhances adipogenesis and metabolic function in old age. eLife, 7, e32490.
- Justice, J. N., Nambiar, A. M., Tchkonia, T., et al. (2019). Senolytics in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: Results from a first-in-human, open-label, pilot study. EBioMedicine, 40, 554–563.
- Hickson, L. J., Langhi Prata, L. G. P., Bobart, S. A., et al. (2019). Senolytics decrease senescent cells in humans: Preliminary report from a clinical trial of dasatinib plus quercetin in individuals with diabetic kidney disease. EBioMedicine, 47, 446–456.