Scientists at the SENS Research Foundation combine telomerase therapy, senolytics, stem cell treatments, and rapamycin in a controlled mouse experiment to target key aging damage pathways, demonstrating additive lifespan benefits and paving the way for scalable anti-aging strategies.
Key points
Eight-component protocol targets all seven SENS damage categories in middle-aged mice.
Combination of telomerase gene therapy, senolytics, stem cell transplant and rapamycin yields additive lifespan extension.
New additions—partial reprogramming, GDNF, IL-11 inhibition, astaxanthin—broaden damage coverage.
Why it matters:
Combining multiple targeted therapies to repair aging damage shifts the paradigm from disease treatment to comprehensive rejuvenation, enabling impactful longevity interventions.
Q&A
What are the SENS damage categories?
How do senolytics work?
What is partial reprogramming?
Why combine multiple interventions?
Each SENS category represents a specific type of damage that contributes to aging. Effective longevity interventions address all categories together:
Researchers develop targeted therapies for each damage type. For cell loss, stem cell transplantation can replenish lost cells. Senolytics are drugs that clear senescent cells and reduce inflammation. Enzymes and small molecules break down extracellular crosslinks to restore elasticity. Gene therapies and antioxidants correct mitochondrial mutations and protect against oxidative stress. Epigenetic reprogramming can reverse nuclear DNA damage signatures, while immune modulation enhances debris clearance.
Integrating multiple therapies yields additive benefits, as seen in mouse studies combining gene therapy, senolytics, stem cells, and rapamycin. Future research will refine dosing, delivery methods, and safety to translate SENS strategies into human clinical trials. Public engagement, funding, and regulatory frameworks will be essential to move these comprehensive rejuvenation therapies from laboratory to clinic.
