Aging Process Slowed in Mice Study by Removing Deadbeat Cells
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A natural anti-cancer mechanism that causes cells to stop dividing and go into limbo also drives the aging process, according to a study in mice that found removing the cells slows the physical decline that comes with age.
The breakthrough answers a riddle about the effect of the cells that refuse to die, though they no longer multiply, dodging scientists for five decades. The “deadbeat” cells, in a state known as senescence, accumulate over time and produce chemicals that damage tissue and trigger inflammation. The results, published yesterday in the journal Nature, show for the first time these cells play a pivotal role in the development of cataracts, muscle weakness and other byproducts of aging.