12 Hallmarks of Aging

Cellular senescence

Hallmark 8 of 12 · Antagonistic tier

Damaged cells stop dividing but remain active, secreting factors that harm surrounding tissue.

Senescent cells accumulate via telomere attrition, DNA damage, and oncogenic stress. The senescence-associated secretory phenotype (IL-6, IL-8, MMPs) drives paracrine dysfunction, inflammaging, and stem-cell niche disruption.

How to minimize cellular senescence

  • Primary prevention: reduce DNA-damage and chronic inflammation sources that increase senescent cell burden early.
  • Senolytics (dasatinib + quercetin, fisetin) clear senescent cells in pilot human studies—long-term safety and efficacy for healthy aging unproven.
  • Senomorphics (rapamycin, JAK inhibitors) suppress SASP without ablation—still investigational.
  • Exercise may lower senescent cell markers in adipose and muscle in rodent and some human biopsy data.