Breakthrough anti-aging drug could prolong human life by 30%

New discoveries in cellular biology are bringing us closer to extending the human lifespan. Aging, once seen as an inevitable decline, may soon be slowed—or even partially reversed—with a pill.

Researchers have been working on drugs that target the root causes of aging, rather than just its symptoms. A promising example comes from the Mayo Clinic, where scientists have focused on senolytic drugs. These compounds are designed to remove a harmful type of cell that builds up in the body over time.

The results, published in eBioMedicine, show that senolytics can trigger an increase in the body’s production of a protein called a-klotho. This protein plays a key role in protecting against age-related disease. The research includes both animal and human studies, offering strong support for the drugs’ potential.

Senolytics target what are known as senescent cells. These are often called "zombie cells" because they stop dividing but refuse to die. Instead, they linger in the body and release harmful chemicals that damage nearby cells and tissues.

These zombie cells are linked to conditions such as heart disease, diabetes, and Alzheimer’s. By clearing them out of the bloodstream, senolytics help slow or even reverse some of the damage caused by aging. In the Mayo Clinic study, removing these cells caused a significant rise in protective a-klotho protein levels.

Not all zombie cells are harmful, though. Sometimes, they play a beneficial role. A 2017 study suggests that cellular senescence—the process by which a cell becomes senescent—can act as a defense against cancer by halting the growth of tumors.

Under normal conditions, a healthy cell faced with stress has three paths. It can repair itself, die, or enter senescence. Stressors like viral infections or oxidative damage can push it toward this zombie-like state. Once there, the cell no longer functions properly, but also refuses to go away.

Instead of uncontrollably multiplying and contributing to tumor formation, a cell will turn into a zombie cell and halt its growth.

On the other hand, zombie cells can also have negative consequences in different situations. As we age, these zombie cells accumulate within our bodies. This accumulation can impede the body's ability to repair damaged tissue and may cause the release of harmful chemicals that affect nearby healthy cells.

Research has connected the presence of zombie cells to numerous age-related diseases such as atherosclerosis (a type of heart disease), diabetes, and lung disease.

Senolytics (or senolytic drugs) are a specific class of drugs that help clear out zombie cells. "We show that there is an avenue for an orally active, small-molecule approach to increase this beneficial protein and also to amplify the action of senolytic drugs," says James Kirkland, M.D., Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic internist and senior author of the study.

The researchers first showed that senescent cells decrease levels of a-klotho in three types of human cells: umbilical vein endothelial cells, kidney cells and brain cells.

The researchers demonstrated that by using senolytics desatinib and quercetin in three different mouse models, a-klotho levels were increased. Following the administration of desatinib and quercetin in clinical trial participants with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a-klotho levels were also found to increase.

Yi Zhu, Ph.D., a Mayo Clinic physiologist and biomedical engineer, and the study's first author, states, "We are the first to establish a connection between the potential influence of fat-resident senescent cells on brain a-klotho. This could provide another path to explore the effects of peripheral senescent cells on brain aging."

The protein a-klotho plays a crucial role in maintaining overall health. Its levels tend to decline as people age and are particularly reduced in various diseases such as Alzheimer's, diabetes, and kidney disease.

Research on animals has revealed that reducing a-klotho in mice results in a shorter lifespan, while increasing a-klotho levels by inserting a gene that triggers its production can extend their lifespan by 30%.

Increasing a-klotho levels in humans has been a significant objective in research; however, achieving this has been challenging due to its large size and instability. Direct introduction poses issues, as it necessitates intravenous administration rather than oral consumption.

The current research demonstrates that senolytics, which can be taken orally, boost a-klotho levels in individuals suffering from idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, a condition linked to senescence that results in frailty, severe breathing problems, and death.

This study received support from various organizations, including the National Institute of Health, the Translational Geroscience Network, Robert and Arlene Kogod, the Connor Group, Robert J. and Theresa W. Ryan, and the Noaber Foundation.

The senolytic drug dasatinib isn’t available as an over-the-counter drug. But quercetin is available in supplement form.

You can also ramp up your quercetin intake by eating more onions, apples (with the skin!), citrus fruits, and parsley. It can’t hurt, and these delicious foods are easy to find at your grocery store or local farmer’s market.

Note: Materials provided above by the The Brighter Side of News. Content may be edited for style and length.

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