Senescent Cells: A New Target in the Fight Against Type 2 Diabetes and Metabolic Disease
New York, NY – November 21, 2023 – A growing body of research points to a surprising culprit in the development of obesity, type 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome: aging cells that have stopped dividing, a process known as cellular senescence. A new review published in the Journal of Internal Medicine explores the connection between these “senescent cells” and metabolic diseases, and highlights the exciting potential of a new class of therapies designed to target them.
For years, scientists have understood that as cells age, they can become damaged and lose their ability to function properly. But recent discoveries reveal that these aging cells don’t simply become inactive – they actively disrupt surrounding tissue. Senescent cells accumulate in key metabolic tissues, releasing factors that trigger inflammation and fibrosis (scarring), ultimately hindering healthy metabolic function.
“By targeting senescent cells, senotherapeutics mitigate one of the root drivers of age- and obesity-related metabolic disease, opening a powerful new frontier in modern medicine,” explains Dr. Allyson Palmer, corresponding author of the review and a researcher at the Mayo Clinic. “This emerging class of therapies could transform how we treat and even prevent metabolic disease.”
What are Senotherapeutics?
Researchers are exploring several approaches to combat the negative effects of senescent cells, collectively known as “senotherapeutics.” These include:
* Senolytics: Drugs designed to eliminate senescent cells.
* Senomorphics: Compounds that suppress the harmful factors secreted by senescent cells.
* Senosensitizers: Agents that make senescent cells more vulnerable to being cleared by the body’s natural defenses.
The promise of these therapies lies in their potential to address the underlying causes of metabolic dysfunction, rather than simply managing symptoms. While still in the early stages of development, senotherapeutics represent a significant shift in how we approach the prevention and treatment of these increasingly prevalent conditions.
this research offers a hopeful outlook for millions struggling with metabolic diseases, suggesting a future where aging itself may become a modifiable risk factor.
Learn More:
Senotherapeutics for Metabolic Disease and Diabetic Complications, Journal of Internal Medicine (2025). DOI: 10.1111/joim.70039
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