Saturday, October 17, 2026 · Edition updated 6:00 AM ETSAT, OCT 17 · 6 AM ET editionNext edition in Next --:--:--
Get the weekly brief

Clearing old cells

Old, damaged cells that stop dividing build up with age. Senolytics are drugs and compounds meant to clear them out.

What has been tested, and how far it has got

2SenolyticsStage 2 · Small studies in people · Mostly inside clinical trialsSenolytics are agents that target senescence, a state of aging cells, and have shown promise in preclinical models.Main risk: For navitoclax, a drug that promotes cell death, a low platelet count (blood-clotting cells) was a main dose-limiting toxicity.2FisetinStage 2 · Small studies in people · Over-the-counter supplementFisetin is one of three flavonols that a review looked at for prostate and bladder cancer.Main risk: The review of injury studies reported no significant side effects from fisetin.2QuercetinStage 2 · Small studies in people · Over-the-counter supplementQuercetin is a plant compound, called a bioflavonoid, that gives many plants their bright colors.Main risk: In a one-week trial in people with COPD, quercetin caused no severe side effects linked to the study drug, based on blood tests.

Recent research

Summary of earlier studies · International journal of molecular sciences

How aging liver cells affect the liver's ability to repair itself

This review looks at how aging liver cells can both help and hurt liver repair.

Original title: Effects and Therapeutic Strategies of Intra-Hepatic Cellular Senescence and Regeneration.New study · MedComm

Correction issued for a paper on a microRNA and cell aging

This notice fixes an error in an earlier paper about a small molecule called microRNA-708 and aging.

Original title: Correction to "AMPK-upregulated microRNA-708 Plays as a Suppressor of Cellular Senescence and Aging via Downregulating Disabled-2 and mTORC1 Activation".Summary of earlier studies · Ageing research reviews

How aging cell changes may relate to a type of heart failure

This review looked at studies linking aging cells and their chemical signals to a heart problem called HFpEF.

Original title: Cellular senescence in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction: Mechanisms and therapeutic opportunities.New trial · ClinicalTrials.gov

Do cancer survivors have more aging-related proteins in their blood?

This study will compare blood proteins and markers of cell aging in cancer survivors and people who never had cancer.

Original title: Fatty Acid Binding Proteins and Markers of Cellular Senescence in Cancer SurvivorsNew trial · ClinicalTrials.gov

Vitamin E type tocotrienol tested as a possible aging helper in middle-aged adults

A trial plans to compare tocotrienol capsules with placebo pills for six months.

Original title: Tocotrienol Supplementa as A Senolytic Agent in Middle-aged AdultsTrial in 72 older adults with obesity, not yet reported · ClinicalTrials.gov

Study will map fat cells and aging cells in older adults with obesity

This is a plan for a trial that is still signing up people, so no results exist yet.

Original title: Single Nuclei RNA-seq to Map Adipose Cellular Populations and Senescent Cells in Older SubjectsNew trial · ClinicalTrials.gov

A study is looking at aging cells in uterine fibroids

This study is still recruiting people, so no results are available yet.

Original title: Role of Senescent Cells in Uterine Fibroid Pathogenesis (SOUL Study)

Back to age reversal →

This is general information gathered from the sources listed, not medical advice. Talk to your doctor before starting anything new.