From the moment of birth, a person’s natural aging process begins and is influenced by growth, maturation, illness, and ultimately, death.

As we age, we tend to become slower in our actions. This happens because the cells in our body also age and become less active. Harmful molecular and cellular damage can occur in the billions of cells within the body, leading to impaired functionality, reduced cognition, increased frailty, and weakened immunity.

These aging cells can be found almost everywhere, from the skin to the eyes, heart, and brain. They are called senescent cells, or “zombie” cells.

Although short-lived zombie cells may have a beneficial effect on wound healing in a transgenic model used for research, they play a harmful role in our overall health. Since our bodies can only partially clear chronic zombie cells as a defensive measure, the longer they accumulate in our bodies, the more susceptible we become to illness or aging.

‘Twilight’ Cells

Zombie cells were first observed in 1961 when researchers noticed that normal active human fibroblast cells—which support and connect tissues and organs in the body—could only replicate a limited number of times in a lab dish. Eventually, these cells became inactive and could no longer divide.

Many cells in an adult become specialized for a specific function, such as forming the brain, and do not frequently reproduce. However, some cells, such as skin and blood cells, divide constantly, leading to the continuous renewal of our skin and blood.

A zombie cell is in its twilight: not quite dead but not functioning as it did at its peak. For example, a zombie sweat gland cell decreases sebum production by as much as 60 percent, resulting in visibly less smooth skin. While zombie cell functions have diminished, they continue to resist death and release harmful biological signals that can impair cognition, increase frailty, and weaken the immune system. To make matters worse, their numbers grow as we age.

Harmful stimuli that produce zombie cells include:

• DNA damage
• Oxidative stress
• Obesity
• High blood sugar
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Impaired immunity

Zombie cells can release a combination of harmful molecules and secrete inflammatory signals, such as cytokines and proteins, that affect the function of nearby cells and induce local inflammation.

Immune cells can also age, and the outcome can be even more disastrous.

Immune zombie cells, attracted by the inflammatory signals from zombie cells, secrete their own inflammatory molecules. Not only do they fail to clean up the mess, but they also add to the inflammation.

This phenomenon, known as “inflammaging,” is a long-lasting vicious cycle of destruction and the cause of many chronic diseases.

This is why an accumulation of zombie cells and age-related inflammation is associated with many diseases, including cancer, diabetes, heart disease, kidney disease, and Alzheimer’s disease.

Drugs Targeted to Clear Zombie Cells

Over the past decade, researchers have experimented with various methods to destroy zombie cells and potentially extend the human lifespan.

There are currently approximately 11 clinical trials listed on the U.S. clinical trials website investigating new senolytics or antiaging therapeutics. The goal of this research is to develop drugs that can delay, prevent, or reverse age-related diseases such as Alzheimer’s, osteoarthritis, vision decline, and chronic kidney conditions.

A senolytic is a type of small molecule used to selectively induce the death of zombie cells.

In a 2017 article in Nature, Jennifer Elisseeff, a biomedical engineer at Johns Hopkins University, stated, “Just by removing senescent cells, you could stimulate new tissue production.”

This can jump-start our natural repair mechanisms and healing abilities, much like clearing out the clutter from a room to let fresh air flow in.

Older Mice Rejuvenated

In a study published in 2015, a team at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, and the Scripps Research Institute in Jupiter, Florida, discovered that a combination of two compounds, dasatinib and quercetin (D+Q), effectively killed senescent cells in aged mice.

The treatment made the mice less frail, rejuvenated their hearts, and boosted their running endurance. Cardiac function and carotid vascular reactivity showed improvement just five days after a single dose.

Before testing the D+Q drug combination on animals, researchers found that using dasatinib and quercetin together effectively reduced the number of old, damaged mouse cells in an in vitro fibroblast cell model.

Dasatinib eliminated senescent human fat cell progenitors, while quercetin was more effective against senescent human endothelial cells and mouse bone marrow-derived stem cells.

Dasatinib is a kinase inhibitor that targets a specific cell protein to treat leukemia. It is a small-molecule drug used to slow the growth and spread of cancer cells in the body.

Quercetin, is a potent antioxidant flavonoid known for its anti-inflammatory, antihypertensive, and anti-obesity activities.

Quercetin derives its name from the Latin word “quercetum,” which means “oak forest.” It belongs to a class of flavonols that cannot be synthesized by the human body. Quercetin is widely distributed in nature and is abundant in dietary sources such as fruits (especially citrus), leafy green vegetables, various seeds, barks, nuts, buckwheat, flowers, broccoli, olive oil, onions, apples, red grapes, red wine, dark cherries, green tea, and berries such as blueberries and cranberries.

Cognitive Function Improved

Researchers are testing dasatinib and quercetin to eliminate zombie cells in animal models and patients with Alzheimer’s.

In a 2019 study, mice with Alzheimer’s treated with both drugs showed reduced brain inflammation and improved memory function compared to a placebo group.

Researchers are currently assessing the safety and effectiveness of this drug combination in people with early Alzheimer’s. In a phase 1 clinical trial, five people were given D+Q for three months, and the drugs were deemed safe for these patients. The team is now conducting a larger trial to evaluate whether the drug combination can effectively treat patients with early-stage Alzheimer’s.

Vision Improved

Diabetic patients can develop edema in the central area of the back of the eye, a condition called diabetic macular edema, triggered by elevated blood sugar levels that cause blood vessels to leak, particularly in older patients.

In diabetic patients’ retinas, there are zombie cells in the blood vessels. These cells persist because they contain high levels of anti-death proteins.

Foselutoclax is a drug that blocks anti-death proteins, selectively eliminating zombie cells in diabetic retinal blood vessels without harming healthy cells.

In diabetic mice, foselutoclax reduced retinal blood vessel leakage by approximately 50 percent, leading to improved vision.

In a phase 1 clinical trial, eight patients with diabetic-related edema were injected with a single dose of foselutoclax. By 12 weeks after injection, six patients showed improved visual function, and by 24 weeks, five patients experienced improvement. Overall, 62.5 percent of participants could read five or more additional letters by the 24-week mark, with half gaining 10 or more letters.

Gut Regenerated

Certain body parts possess a high potential for self-renewal to maintain youthfulness as we age. The gut, in particular, is known for its exceptional regenerative abilities. However, this capacity diminishes with age.

According to a March preprint article, scientists at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory—a private, nonprofit research institution in New York and home to eight Nobel Prize winners—have successfully rejuvenated the guts of aging mice.

A receptor known as uPAR, a cell-surface protein that is broadly induced during senescence, is highly expressed on the surface of zombie cells in both animals and humans. Researchers have developed the first chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells capable of recognizing and safely eliminating these senescent cells efficiently.

Following treatment with uPAR CAR T cells, the percentage of uPAR-positive cells in the intestines of older mice was significantly reduced, reaching levels comparable to those found in young mice.

Additionally, another aging marker, senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) positive cells, also showed a significant decrease after treatment.

Natural Ways to Clear Zombie Cells

In addition to the drug-based approach, many natural methods have demonstrated the potential to destroy zombie cells.

An unhealthy lifestyle, such as being overweight, smoking, or having high sugar intake, can induce telomere dysfunction and result in the accumulation of zombie cells.

Telomeres are DNA sequences that protect the ends of chromosomes, enabling cell division. Their length can serve as a biomarker, indicating genetic predisposition and the effect of the environment on lifespan and age-related diseases. Shortened telomeres are associated with aging, cancer, and mortality.

Living a healthy lifestyle may help prevent the formation and buildup of zombie cells.

Caloric Restriction

In the 1930s, Clive McCay, a scientist at Cornell University in New York, published a paper showing that a simple dietary change could keep animals healthy for longer and extend their lives.

Mr. McCay discovered that by restricting a rat’s diet to near-starvation levels, he was able to increase their lifespan by up to 33 percent.

For the first time, scientists found evidence that it may be possible to slow down the aging process.

Researchers have found that caloric restriction can decrease the proportion of zombie cells in the large intestine of both mice and humans.

In modern society, people enjoy continuous access to food facilitated by freezing and refrigeration. Fast food is readily available, and supermarkets abound with snacks, fostering a culture of overeating.

Caloric restriction and intermittent fasting can reduce food intake without resulting in malnutrition. These practices have been shown to reduce aging by activating autophagy.

Autophagy

Autophagy, derived from a Greek word meaning “eating of self,” is a natural cellular process that breaks down waste products within aging or diseased cells. It actively clears harmful substances such as misfolded proteins and damaged DNA, thereby preventing the formation of zombie cells.

Numerous studies on yeast, worms, flies, and mice have confirmed that increased autophagy plays an antiaging role. Upregulating autophagy-related genes has been shown to delay aging and extend lifespan.

Certain dietary supplements, such as resveratrol, curcumin, and spermidine, are also believed to induce autophagy while benefiting heart and brain health.

Moderate Exercise

Exercise has been found to decrease the presence of zombie cells in critical organs such as the heart, liver, muscles, kidneys, and adipose tissues.

Mice that engaged in voluntary wheel running for three weeks showed a reduction in markers of zombie cells in their hearts.

In aged mice, aerobic treadmill exercise performed for 15 to 60 minutes per day, five times a week for six weeks, significantly lowered levels of zombie cell-associated beta-galactosidase in the kidneys.

Modern conveniences such as elevators and cars have reduced the need for physical movement. Sedentary office jobs and excessive use of smartphones, computers, and video games contribute to decreased physical activity, accelerated aging, and an increased susceptibility to various diseases.

Meditation

Although direct research on the effect of meditation specifically on the number of zombie cells is lacking, extensive scientific evidence supports the notion that meditation practices can yield positive effects in preventing or reducing their presence. This is underscored by the influence of meditation on various relevant biomarkers, including telomeres, brain size, inflammation, stress levels, and immune function.

Meditation has been shown to enhance telomerase activity, reduce proinflammatory processes, and mitigate the effects of chronic stress, all of which contribute to the prevention or removal of zombie cells.

As we age, our brain shrinks. Zombie cells contribute to this process by releasing toxic substances that kill healthy cells, leading to brain cell loss and shrinkage. A 2015 study found that the brain size of 50 long-term meditation practitioners was well-preserved, shrinking only slightly with age compared to 50 age-matched controls.

A 2019 randomized controlled study published in Psychoneuroendocrinology reported that practicing a type of meditation focused on loving-kindness slows biological aging.

A large genomic study showed that meditation enhanced immune function without activating inflammatory signals. A boosted, normal-functioning immune system will also help clear the body of zombie cells.

In our fast-paced, modern world, our cells are subjected to increased stress. Embracing meditative practices can help us find tranquility and may play a significant role in preventing and reducing the effects of aging.

A Holistic Approach

Using a pharmaceutical approach to eliminate zombie cells is a rapidly advancing field with several promising candidates currently undergoing testing. Nevertheless, their long-term safety and efficacy in humans have yet to be fully established.

Despite the potential, drug-based methods for eliminating zombie cells face significant limitations.

Firstly, not all zombie cells are alike. At the molecular level, they produce different cytokines and proteins and employ different strategies to evade destruction.

This diversity necessitates the development of distinct drugs tailored to combat specific types of aging-related conditions. Each drug must effectively target the unique characteristics of the zombie cells associated with these conditions, posing a significant challenge to drug development.

Secondly, when targeting zombie cells, drugs may inadvertently affect other physiological pathways, potentially leading to unintended side effects, especially at higher doses. Enhancing the body’s natural cleansing processes could offer a solution to mitigate these concerns.

Furthermore, drugs can eliminate zombie cells but not prevent their formation. Instead, they only take action after they have accumulated.

In contrast, natural and holistic strategies can be more effective in preventing the formation of zombie cells. Unlike drugs, these methods take a holistic approach rather than targeting specific types of zombie cells. Consequently, they are less likely to cause unexpected side effects often associated with pharmaceutical interventions.

A longer and healthier life has been a timeless desire of humanity. Integrating modern and traditional approaches offers the potential to diminish the presence of senescent zombie cells, thereby slowing down the aging process and enhancing our overall quality of life.