Some scientists say we are just a few years away from creating drugs that delay or even prevent aging altogether. Still, the life-extension community has been excited about senolytic therapies for many years. More recently, scientific studies and early human trials reveal a growing number of compounds proven to increase healthspan.
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Natural Senolytic Therapies You Can Take for Anti-aging
A Background to Senolytic Therapies for Longevity
Extending the human lifespan has a long tradition in many cultures. It has been the focus of the medical community, which continues to explore potential avenues in longevity.
Senolytics, a medicine that selectively kills senescent cells (aging cells), is one such practice.
Senescent cells are aged and malfunctioning cells that also affect normal cells and cause the body to become less capable of tissue repair. Inflammation control and protection against age-related diseases, cancer, or injury reduces, and the body becomes compromised. Individuals who amass more senescent cells seem to age quicker, and their biological clock ticks faster.
Studies in mice found that by removing senescent cells, insulin resistance was alleviated, and cell dysfunction was improved. Many other animal studies have also recorded successful senolytic therapies.
Research
There is now early evidence from human trials that confirm what the animal-based studies found about senolytic therapies as a way to improve life span.
A 2019 report on how senolytics decrease senescent cells in humans used a combination of the senolytic leukemia drug dasatinib and the dietary supplement quercetin, previously shown to improve physical function in patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis. In the new phase 1 trial, nine patients with diabetes-related chronic kidney disease were given the combination drugs for three days. Eleven days after the treatment had stopped, despite being completely eliminated from the system, the effects of the medicine appeared to last, and there was a significant reduction in the number of senescent cells.
In another study, preclinical tests on the small molecule inhibitor UBX1325 showed it to eliminate senescent cells for patients with diabetic macular edema. This resulted in a positive impact on inflammation, reduction in vascular leakage, and improvement in retinal and visual function. The first phase of clinical trials is due to complete by October 2021.
Natural Senolytics
A diverse variety of compounds, ranging from chemotherapy drugs to common dietary supplements, have been shown to have senolytic effects.
You may have heard of the natural compounds ashwagandha, spirulina, and garlic extract, which are not strictly senolytics but can naturally increase killer cell activity and indirectly kill senescent cells.
Some of the most powerful natural senolytics currently being studied and trialed include:
Fisetin
Fisetin is one of the most potent senolytics. This flavenoid and natural yellow coloring agent is found in fruits and vegetables like apple, cucumber, persimmon, onion, and strawberry. The study of senolytic therapies on mice has been successful, demonstrating fisetin to have neurotrophic, anticarcinogenic, anti-inflammatory benefits, reduce senescent markers in tissues, reduce the risk of age-related diseases, and increase the risk of age-related diseases lifespan.
Quercetin
Studies have shown this polyphenol to have a wide range of biological actions, including anti-inflammatory, anticarcinogenic, and antiviral activities and improving cardiovascular health. Due to recent studies, it is currently the most validated natural senolytics supplement.
Trans-Resveratrol
This naturally occurring polyphenol is found in over 70 plant species and various human foods, notable grape skins. Evidence from animal and human studies reveals that the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects may prevent or act as a treatment against many non-communicable diseases such as neurodegenerative diseases, obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and certain cancers.
Pterostilbene
This natural dietary compound, the primary antioxidant component of blueberries, has increased bioavailability and demonstrated in multiple studies to have antioxidant effects. The preventative and therapeutic effects of pterostilbene have been connected to anti carcinogenesis, moderation of neurological disease, and improvement of diabetes, to name a few.
Curcumin
Turmeric’s medicinal properties and the source of curcumin have been known for thousands of years. Anti-aging studies reveal that it aids in the management of inflammatory and oxidative conditions, as well as arthritis, anxiety, and high cholesterol. It has also been shown to help manage muscle soreness induced by exercise, therefore aids in the recovery and performance of athletes and active people.
Senolytic Complex for Longer Life
The Senolytic Complex from Peak Human is a healthy aging support supplement that optimizes body function, protects from cell damage, and optimizes brain function. It contains all five of the above ingredients giving you the power to enhance your health.
Senolytic therapies may provide an adequate treatment scope for a range of age-related diseases such as cancer, chronic kidney disease, and neurodegenerative disorders, which place a marked burden on healthcare systems worldwide. This field is still new, but early clinical trials are promising.
If you have questions about senolytic therapies or any of the conditions discussed here, connect with us and learn more.
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