Regenerative MedicineHow Senescent Stem Cells Drive Bone and Joint Aging — and How to Fix Them
As we age, the stem cells responsible for repairing bones, cartilage, and spinal discs stop working properly. They accumulate DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and begin secreting inflammatory signals instead of rebuilding tissue. This review examines how senescence in multiple skeletal stem cell populations drives three of the most disabling age-related conditions: osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and intervertebral disc degeneration. Rather than treating these as separate diseases, the authors argue they share a common regenerative failure rooted in stem cell senescence. They then survey a broad toolkit of potential solutions — senolytics to clear senescent cells, senomorphics to quiet their inflammatory output, metabolic regulators, extracellular vesicle therapies, biomaterials, and gene delivery platforms — all aimed at restoring the regenerative capacity that aging erodes.
