A new class of drugs labeled senolytics that may combat some of the factors associated with aging has been identified by researchers at the Scripps Research Institute. Senescent cells are those which have stopped dividing, and their accumulation has been associated with accelerated aging.

In an article published in the August 2015 issue of Aging Cell, Paul Robbins, PhD, and colleagues document their discovery of increased expression of pro-survival networks in senescent cells. Compounds that target these networks, dubbed senolytics, include the drug dasatinib and the nutrient quercetin, which is found in fruits and vegetables, and is also available as a nutritional supplement. While dasatinib was found to reduce senescent human fat cell progenitors, quercetin showed a greater effect against senescent human endothelial cells and mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. The combination of both compounds was shown to eliminate senescent mouse embryonic fibroblasts.

"We view this study as a big, first step toward developing treatments that can be given safely to patients to extend healthspan or to treat age-related diseases and disorders," stated Dr Robbins. "When senolytic agents, like the combination we identified, are used clinically, the results could be transformative."

"In animal models, the compounds improved cardiovascular function and exercise endurance, reduced osteoporosis and frailty, and extended healthspan," reported research team member Laura J. Niedernhofer. "Remarkably, in some cases, these drugs did so with only a single course of treatment."

"Senescence is involved in a number of diseases and pathologies so there could be any number of applications for these and similar compounds," Dr Robbins added. "Also, we anticipate that treatment with senolytic drugs to clear damaged cells would be infrequent, reducing the chance of side effects."

The results of tens of thousands of scientific studies make it abundantly clear that following the proper lifestyle can add a significant number of healthy years to the average person's lifespan.

The premise of taking action to maintain youthful health and vigor is based on findings from peer-reviewed scientific studies that identify specific factors that cause us to develop degenerative disease. These studies suggest that the consumption of certain foods, food extracts, hormones, or drugs will help prevent common diseases associated with normal aging.

One of the most compelling reports that high-potency supplements extend lifespan in humans was in the August 1996 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. This study involving 11 178 elderly people attempted to establish the effects of vitamin supplements on mortality. The use of vitamin E reduced the risk of death from all causes by 34%. Effects were strongest for coronary artery disease, where vitamin E resulted in a 63% reduction in death from heart attack. In addition, use of vitamin E resulted in a 59% reduction in cancer mortality. When the effects of vitamins C and E were combined, overall mortality was reduced by 42% (compared to 34% for vitamin E alone) (Losonczy 1996). These results provided significant evidence about the value of vitamin supplementation, yet the media failed to report on it. It included 11 178 people, a larger group than most previous studies.