Researchers have identified a new class of drugs which they claim slows down the aging process dramatically thereby enabling people to live a longer and healthier life.
Identified by the Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), Mayo Clinic and other institutions, the new class of drugs dubbed “senolytics” not only slow the aging process, but they also alleviate symptoms of weakness, improve cardiac function, and extends healthy lifespan in animal models.
It has long been known that senescent cells – cells that have stopped dividing – accumulate with age and are the primary drivers of the aging process. Since the “healthspan” in mice is enhanced by killing off these cells, the scientists reasoned that finding treatments that accomplish this in humans could have tremendous potential.
Identification of senescent cells was the next hurdle which scientists jumped over using transcript analysis. Researchers found that, like cancer cells, senescent cells have increased expression of “pro-survival networks” that help them resist apoptosis or programmed cell death.
Using these criteria, the team homed in on two available compounds—the cancer drug dasatinib (sold under the trade name Sprycel®) and quercetin, a natural compound sold as a supplement that acts as an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory.
“In animal models, the compounds improved cardiovascular function and exercise endurance, reduced osteoporosis and frailty, and extended healthspan,” said Niedernhofer, whose animal models of accelerated aging were used extensively in the study. “Remarkably, in some cases, these drugs did so with only a single course of treatment.”
Lead researcher, Professor Paul Robbins, PhD, said that they consider the study to be the first big step toward developing treatments that can be given safely to patients to extend healthspan or to treat age-related diseases and disorders.
Senior author, Professor James Kirkland, MD, PhD added that the prototypes of the senolytic agents have more than proven their ability to alleviate multiple characteristics associated with aging. It may eventually become feasible to delay, prevent, alleviate or even reverse multiple chronic diseases and disabilities as a group, instead of just one at a time.
The authors caution that more testing was needed before it was used in humans. They also note both drugs in the study have possible side effects, at least with long-term treatment.
The research is published online by the journal Aging Cell.
