An emerging approach to longevity and regenerative medicine that targets senescent cells — damaged cells that accumulate with age and contribute to chronic inflammation, tissue dysfunction, and age-related disease.
Cellular senescence is a biological process in which cells permanently stop dividing but do not die. Instead, they accumulate in tissues and secrete a mixture of inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and proteases known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). This chronic inflammatory signaling contributes to age-related diseases, tissue fibrosis, and immune dysfunction.
Senolytic interventions aim to selectively clear these senescent cells, potentially reducing chronic inflammation and supporting tissue regeneration. This is a rapidly evolving area of scientific research with promising preclinical results and early clinical evidence.
Important: Senolytic therapy is an investigational approach. While preclinical and early human studies show promising results, large-scale clinical trials are still ongoing. At St. George Hospital, senolytic protocols are offered within the framework of individualized medicine and with full transparency about the current state of evidence.
Senolytic agents work by targeting the survival mechanisms that keep senescent cells alive despite their damaged state. These cells upregulate anti-apoptotic pathways (BCL-2 family, PI3K/AKT) to avoid programmed cell death. Senolytic compounds selectively inhibit these survival pathways, allowing the damaged cells to undergo apoptosis while sparing healthy cells.
The protocol at St. George Hospital may include a combination of nutraceutical and pharmaceutical agents with senolytic properties, administered in short intermittent courses rather than continuous dosing. The specific compounds and dosing schedule are determined by the attending physician based on the patient’s biomarker profile and clinical status.
Senolytic protocols at St. George Hospital are considered for patients with:
Our physicians can discuss whether a senolytic assessment may be informative for your health goals. This includes biomarker testing and a comprehensive evaluation.
The senolytic protocol begins with comprehensive biomarker testing to assess markers associated with cellular senescence and systemic inflammation. Based on these results, a personalized intervention plan is developed. Senolytic agents are typically administered in short courses (1-3 days) with rest periods between cycles. The protocol is monitored through repeat biomarker testing to evaluate response. Most patients report no significant side effects during the brief treatment periods.
The scientific foundation of senolytics was established by research published in Nature Medicine, Nature Aging, and other leading journals, demonstrating that clearance of senescent cells in animal models extends healthspan and reduces age-related pathology. The first human clinical trials, including the landmark study by Justice et al. (2019) in EBioMedicine, have shown that senolytic compounds are tolerable in humans with preliminary signals of efficacy. Larger randomized controlled trials are underway. St. George Hospital follows the available literature closely and adjusts protocols as new evidence emerges.
Contact our medical team to discuss cellular senescence testing and whether a senolytic protocol may be considered for your health goals.
