Senolytics: The Zombie Cell Assassins

Senolytics: The Zombie Cell Assassins

Senolytics are drugs and other therapeutics that kill senescent zombie cells and activate autophagy, the natural mechanism whereby we clear senescent cells from our bodies. Autophagy (literally self-digesting) is an essential mechanism that is taking place every second of our lives. But as we age, we accumulate greater populations of senescent cells, and the natural […]

Autophagy: The “self-digestion” longevity pathway

Autophagy: The “self-digestion” longevity pathway

Autophagy is the natural, regulated mechanism of the cell that responds to senescence through the removal of unnecessary or dysfunctional cells, aka Zombie cells, and their cellular components. One of the best known and studied inducers of autophagy is dietary fasting. Autophagy allows the orderly degradation and recycling of senescent cellular components. Dysregulation or inhibition […]

Inhibitors of mTOR: The survival pathway that is a billion years old

Inhibitors of mTOR: The survival pathway that is a billion years old

At least a billion years ago, all eukaryotes (organisms made up of cells that possess a membrane-bound nucleus holding genetic material as well as membrane-bound organelles) evolved a common survival and longevity mechanism, known today as mTOR, the mechanistic target of rapamycin.  It is now known that the majority of aging-related pathological diseases-atherosclerosis, osteoarthritis, cancer, […]

Epigenetics: Your Biological Age Clock

Epigenetics: Your Biological Age Clock

What is the Epigenetic Clock? The epigenetic clock is a scientifically validated and reliable measurement of specific genes and the presence or absence of methylations on a known sequence of genes that encode for the expression of the longevity phenotype. What are epigenetics? Technically, the term epigenetics is used to describe any alteration of the […]

On Turning 70: Longevity, Anti-Aging Science, and My Quest to Kill Zombie Cells

On Turning 70: Longevity, Anti-Aging Science, and My Quest to Kill Zombie Cells

How did zombie cells enter into our discussion of longevity and anti-aging science at my 70th birthday dinner? We were 4 generations, ranging in age from 2 to 94 years, gathered around our table for a Mediterranean-inspired birthday dinner. The contrast between the exuberant vitality of our 24-month-old granddaughter, and the frailty of her 94-year-old great-grandmother […]