Brain HealthMayo Clinic maps zombie cells and finds new ways to quiet them
Senescent cells, often called zombie cells, stop dividing but stay active and release inflammatory signals that contribute to age-related disease. Mayo Clinic scientists published seven studies in Nature journals that look at how to recognize different types of these cells, why they drive inflammation and how to dampen their effects. The work shows senescent cells are far more varied than once thought, differing by tissue and by what triggered them. The team built the SenMayo gene set, a gene-activity signature that spots senescent cells across tissues, and tested it in bone biopsies from older adults. Other studies point to a link between mitochondria and chronic inflammation. In aging mice, experimental treatments, including a natural compound found in tomatoes, reduced inflammation and improved physical and brain health. These are early findings in animals and in lab systems, but they lay groundwork for therapies that target specific harmful cells rather than all senescent cells at once.
