BUFFALO, NY — June 5, 2026 — A new #review was #published in Volume 18 of Aging on May 15, 2026, titled “Blue period – features of senescence 30 years after beta-galactosidase.”

The review was led by first author Chisaka Kuehnemann and corresponding author Christopher D. Wiley from Tufts University.

Cellular senescence has emerged as one of the most important biological processes linked to aging and age-related disease. Senescent cells stop dividing in response to stress or damage, yet they remain metabolically active and release a variety of signaling molecules that can influence surrounding tissues. Over the past three decades, evidence has increasingly shown that the accumulation of these cells contributes to chronic inflammation, tissue dysfunction, and many degenerative conditions associated with aging.

In this review, the authors examine how the field has evolved since the landmark discovery of senescence-associated beta-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) in 1995. That finding provided one of the first practical methods for identifying senescent cells and helped establish that these cells accumulate in aging tissues. Since then, researchers have identified numerous additional characteristics of senescence and developed new approaches to study their role in health and disease.

The review highlights several major features now recognized as hallmarks of senescent cells. These include stable proliferative arrest, increased lysosomal activity, secretion of inflammatory and signaling molecules collectively known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), mitochondrial dysfunction, alterations in nuclear architecture, accumulation of metals and lipofuscin, and enhanced survival despite exposure to cellular stress.

Full press release - https://aging-us.net/2026/06/05/thirty-years-after-the-discovery-of-sa-%ce%b2-gal-researchers-revisit-the-hallmarks-of-cellular-senescence/

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206380

Corresponding author - Christopher D. Wiley - [email protected]

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lfMPJF6No7M

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Keywords - aging, senescence, biomarkers, SASP, cell death

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BUFFALO, NY — June 3, 2026 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on May 15, 2026, titled “Extracellular vesicles released by senescent myoblasts affect recipient cells via miRNA-target interactions.”

The study was led by first author Michael Kamal from the Department of Kinesiology at McMaster University and corresponding author Gianni Parise from the same university.

As people age, skeletal muscle gradually loses strength, size, and regenerative capacity. Scientists have increasingly linked these changes to cellular senescence—a state in which damaged cells permanently stop dividing but remain metabolically active. These senescent cells release a complex mixture of signaling molecules known as the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), which can influence neighboring cells and contribute to tissue dysfunction.

In this study, the researchers investigated whether extracellular vesicles (EVs)—tiny membrane-bound particles released by cells—play a role in this process. Specifically, they examined EVs released by senescent muscle precursor cells, known as myoblasts, and analyzed the microRNAs (miRNAs) carried within these vesicles.

The team found that senescent myoblasts released factors that impaired normal muscle cell development. When healthy muscle cells were exposed to signals from senescent cells, the resulting muscle fibers became significantly smaller and displayed increased expression of genes associated with cellular stress and senescence.

Further analysis revealed that EVs released by senescent myoblasts carried a distinct set of miRNAs. The researchers identified 22 significantly altered miRNAs, including several previously linked to cellular senescence, such as miR-34a, miR-34b, miR-34c, and miR-22. The study also identified miR-301a-3p as a potentially novel senescence-associated miRNA.

Full press release - https://aging-us.net/2026/06/03/senescent-muscle-cells-send-molecular-messages-that-may-contribute-to-age-related-muscle-decline/

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206379

Corresponding author - Gianni Parise - [email protected]

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKBbraYg8ew

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Keywords - aging, cellular senescence, extracellular vesicles, myoblasts, miRNA, multi-omics

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BUFFALO, NY — May 27, 2026 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on May 8, 2026, titled “The mediating role of DNA methylation clocks in associations of race, ethnicity, education, income, and occupation with mortality: findings from NHANES 1999-2002.”

The study was led by first and corresponding author Hanyang Shen from the Department of Epidemiology and Population Health at Stanford University. In this study, the authors investigated whether DNA methylation aging biomarkers—often called epigenetic aging clocks—may help explain how social inequalities become biologically embedded and contribute to differences in mortality risk. Social factors such as race, ethnicity, educational attainment, household income, and occupation have long been associated with disparities in health outcomes and life expectancy. However, the biological mechanisms linking these social exposures to long-term disease risk and mortality remain incompletely understood.

Using nationally representative data from 2,402 adults in the U.S. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2002 linked to mortality follow-up data through 2019, the researchers examined thirteen different DNA methylation biomarkers alongside traditional clinical and behavioral risk factors. The study evaluated whether these epigenetic aging measures mediated associations between social stratification factors and all-cause mortality.

The findings showed that several DNA methylation clocks significantly mediated the relationship between social disadvantage and mortality risk. Among all biomarkers examined, GrimAge2 consistently demonstrated the strongest mediation effects, accounting for up to 52% of mortality disparities in some occupational comparisons. DunedinPoAm, a pace-of-aging biomarker, also demonstrated substantial mediation effects across multiple socioeconomic categories.

Importantly, the mediation effects observed for several DNA methylation biomarkers frequently exceeded those of traditional clinical risk factors measured in the study, including C-reactive protein and cholesterol-related markers. The results suggest that epigenetic aging measures may capture the cumulative biological effects of multiple social, environmental, behavioral, and physiological stressors simultaneously.

“Among all the 13 DNA methylation biomarkers available in NHANES, GrimAge2 consistently exhibited the strongest positive mediation capturing the social disparities on mortality up to 52% (95%CI: 26%-128%), followed by the DunedinPoAm.”

Full press release - https://aging-us.net/2026/05/27/dna-methylation-clocks-may-help-explain-how-social-inequality-influences-mortality/

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206377

Corresponding author - Hanyang Shen - [email protected]

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XObIyirTJok

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Keywords - aging, race and ethnicity, social position, epigenetic aging, mediation analysis, mortality disparities

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BUFFALO, NY — May 20, 2026 — A new #editorial was #published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on May 18, 2026, titled “Public health in the age of longevity interventions: from prevention to system-wide resilience.”

The editorial was authored by Jochen Mierau from the University of Groningen and Aging-US Editor-in-Chief Marco Demaria from the University of Groningen and European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing (ERIBA). In this editorial, the authors examine how modern public health systems may need to evolve as aging populations increasingly face chronic disease, frailty, multimorbidity, and progressive loss of function rather than the acute infectious diseases that shaped 20th-century medicine.

The authors argue that many of the greatest gains in human lifespan historically came not from advanced medical technologies, but from broad public health interventions such as sanitation, vaccination, improved nutrition, occupational safety, safer housing, and access to education. While these measures remain essential, they suggest that modern aging societies now face a different challenge: extending healthspan alongside lifespan.

The editorial highlights how today’s health risks accumulate gradually across the life course through environmental, metabolic, social, and behavioral exposures. Ultra-processed foods, pollution, tobacco, alcohol, sedentary lifestyles, climate-related stressors, and social isolation are described as contributors to accelerated biological aging and increased vulnerability to chronic disease. The authors emphasize that these interconnected exposures cannot be fully addressed through disease-specific treatment alone.

“Rather than representing separate or competing domains, these approaches should be viewed as complementary components of a unified strategy to improve population health across aging societies.”

A major focus of the article is the growing scientific interest in longevity-directed interventions that target core biological mechanisms of aging. The authors discuss pathways including cellular senescence, chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, and impaired proteostasis, noting that interventions directed at these processes may help delay or modify multiple age-related diseases simultaneously rather than treating each condition individually after it emerges.

Importantly, the editorial emphasizes that longevity interventions should not replace either public health or conventional clinical medicine. Instead, the authors propose a coordinated framework operating across the life course. In this model, public health strategies reduce baseline risk and environmental damage, clinical medicine treats established disease, and longevity-focused therapies may help slow biological decline before major pathology becomes clinically apparent. Figure 1 of the paper (page 2) illustrates this proposed multi-layered framework integrating public health, longevity interventions, and disease-specific care across different stages of life.

Full press release - https://www.aging-us.com/news-room/extending-healthspan-through-public-health-and-longevity-medicine

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206381

Corresponding author - Marco Demaria - [email protected]

Paper Preview Video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSjfmxpHer8

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BUFFALO, NY — May 19, 2026 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on May 5, 2026, titled “Methylene blue protects hair follicle stem cells from oxidative and metabolic stress to enhance hair regeneration.”

The study was led by first author Kavitha Sadashivaiah and corresponding author Kan Cao from the Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Genetics at the University of Maryland, College Park. In this study, the authors investigated how methylene blue (MB), a long-established mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant, affects human hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) under conditions of oxidative and metabolic stress. Hair follicle stem cells are essential for maintaining hair growth and regeneration, but aging, ultraviolet radiation, oxidative stress, and metabolic dysfunction can impair their regenerative capacity and contribute to hair thinning and scalp aging.

Using cultured human HFSCs, the researchers found that methylene blue significantly enhanced stem cell proliferation and viability while reducing intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Importantly, MB also increased activation of β-catenin signaling, a central pathway involved in hair follicle regeneration, stem cell maintenance, and wound repair. Functional scratch-assay experiments further demonstrated that MB accelerated wound closure and regenerative activity in HFSC cultures.

The study also explored how methylene blue interacts with other compounds commonly associated with scalp or hair health. While antioxidant vitamins A and C improved oxidative stress scavenging, they unexpectedly reduced MB-induced β-catenin activation when used in combination. In contrast, minoxidil—the widely used hair growth stimulant—worked synergistically with MB to further enhance β-catenin signaling and improve HFSC viability.

“Overall, these findings identify methylene blue as a multifunctional therapeutic candidate that reduces oxidative and metabolic stress while supporting HFSC–mediated hair regeneration.”

Another major focus of the paper involved glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs), medications increasingly used for diabetes and weight management. Recent clinical observations have suggested that some patients receiving GLP-1 RA therapy may experience hair thinning or hair loss. The authors demonstrated that increasing GLP-1 RA concentrations caused dose-dependent reductions in HFSC viability in vitro. However, pretreatment with methylene blue substantially protected the stem cells from GLP-1 RA–associated metabolic stress and premature cell death.

Beyond stem cell protection, the paper discusses methylene blue’s broader potential role in scalp health. Because MB absorbs ultraviolet radiation and has previously demonstrated protective effects against UV-induced DNA damage in skin cells, the authors propose that it may help shield the scalp microenvironment from oxidative injury while supporting regenerative signaling pathways important for hair maintenance. The study also highlights MB’s possible antimicrobial properties and its potential influence on scalp microbiome balance.

Importantly, the authors emphasize that the findings are based on in vitro cellular models and that further in vivo studies will be necessary before clinical applications can be established. Additional research will be required to define appropriate dosing, pharmacokinetics, long-term safety, and therapeutic efficacy in living systems.

Overall, this study identifies methylene blue as a potentially multifunctional therapeutic candidate for supporting hair follicle stem cell health under conditions of oxidative, metabolic, and pharmacologic stress. By combining antioxidant activity with activation of regenerative β-catenin signaling, MB may represent a promising future strategy for protecting scalp health, enhancing hair regeneration, and improving the resilience of aging hair follicle stem cells.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206376

Each month, we will highlight a paper published in Aging-US chosen as the “Editors’ Choice.” These selections are handpicked by our editors and accompanied by a brief summary, showcasing research with significant impact and novel insights in aging and age-related diseases.

__________

In the research paper, titled “Association of epigenetic age acceleration with MRI biomarkers of aging and Alzheimer’s disease neurodegeneration,” researchers investigated whether epigenetic clocks of biological aging are associated with MRI markers of brain aging and Alzheimer’s disease-related neurodegeneration in 1,196 older women. While none of the five epigenetic clocks examined were linked to accelerated overall brain aging, one measure (AgeAccelGrim2) was associated with MRI patterns related to neurodegeneration.

The findings suggest this relationship was largely driven by DNA methylation markers linked to smoking history and changes in frontal and temporal brain regions rather than areas typically affected early in Alzheimer’s disease.

Overall, the study indicates that epigenetic aging and brain aging may reflect different aspects of the aging process, while highlighting the potential role of smoking-related biological aging in increasing dementia risk.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206369

Corresponding author - Linda K. McEvoy - [email protected]

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZiRjlKnnsI

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Keywords - aging, epigenetic clocks, brain age, biological aging, smoking, frontal lobe

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BUFFALO, NY — May 15, 2026 — A new #review was #published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on May 4, 2026, titled “Cellular senescence: from pathogenic mechanisms to precision anti-aging interventions.”

The study was led by first author Jian Deng and corresponding author Dong Yang from the Department of Targeting Therapy and Immunology, Cancer Center, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan, China. In this comprehensive review, the authors examine how cellular senescence contributes to aging and age-related disease across multiple organ systems, while also highlighting the emerging complexity and functional diversity of senescent cell populations. Traditionally, senescent cells have been viewed primarily as harmful byproducts of aging, characterized by irreversible cell-cycle arrest and chronic inflammatory signaling. However, growing evidence suggests that some senescent cells also play beneficial physiological roles in tissue repair, embryonic development, and maintenance of tissue homeostasis.

The review outlines how senescence develops in major tissues including the liver, lungs, kidneys, heart, adipose tissue, brain, and skin. Across these organs, aging-related cellular dysfunction is driven by a combination of oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, DNA damage, chronic inflammation, metabolic stress, telomere shortening, and environmental insults such as ultraviolet radiation and pollution. The authors describe how senescent cells accumulate in highly specialized cell populations—including hepatocytes, endothelial cells, fibroblasts, macrophages, astrocytes, and epithelial cells—where they can disrupt normal tissue architecture and promote chronic disease progression.

Importantly, the article emphasizes that senescent cells are highly heterogeneous and should not be treated as a uniform population. Depending on the tissue context and biological environment, senescent cells may exert either protective or harmful effects. For example, certain senescent cells may help limit fibrosis or support wound healing, whereas others drive chronic inflammation, metabolic dysfunction, tissue degeneration, and cancer progression. This growing recognition of functional heterogeneity has prompted a major shift in anti-aging research away from indiscriminate elimination of senescent cells toward more selective and precision-based therapeutic strategies.

“Based on these insights, this review summarizes the induction mechanisms of cellular senescence and the subsequent evolution of their functional phenotypes across diverse tissues.”

Full press release - https://www.aging-us.com/news-room/precision-anti-aging-strategies-aim-to-target-harmful-senescent-cells-while-preserving-beneficial-ones

Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206375

Corresponding author - Dong Yang – [email protected]

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HkJRwF8mp4A

Keywords - cellular senescence, aging mechanisms, functional heterogeneity, precision anti-aging

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Efforts to improve metabolic health through dietary interventions often come with trade-offs. Some approaches that reduce obesity or extend lifespan in laboratory models can also negatively affect other tissues, including bone.

One example is sulfur amino acid restriction (SAAR), a diet low in methionine and lacking cysteine that has repeatedly shown strong anti-obesity effects in animal studies. However, despite these promising metabolic benefits, SAAR has also been associated with reduced bone mineral density, weaker bones, and increased marrow fat accumulation.

This has led researchers to ask whether the metabolic benefits of SAAR can be separated from its harmful skeletal effects.

A new research paper was published in Volume 18 of Aging-US, titled “D, L-Buthionine-(S, R)-sulfoximine recapitulates the anti-obesity effects of sulfur amino acid restriction without the associated deleterious effects on bone in male mice.” The researchers investigated whether those metabolic benefits could be achieved without the same harmful effects on bone. The study was led by first author Naidu B. Ommi and corresponding author Sailendra N. Nichenametla from the Orentreich Foundation for the Advancement of Science Inc., in collaboration with Dwight A. L. Mattocks from the same institution and Mark C. Horowitz from the Yale University School of Medicine.

Full blog - https://aging-us.org/2026/05/glutathione-pathway-may-hold-the-key-to-safer-anti-obesity-interventions/

Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206358

Corresponding author - Sailendra N. Nichenametla - [email protected]

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0adFA_b-q1Q

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Keywords - bone, aging, methionine, glutathione, redox

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BUFFALO, NY — May 12, 2026 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on May 4, 2026, titled “Host immunosenescence compromises Mycobacterium tuberculosis clearance.”

The study was led by first author Falak Pahwa and corresponding author Ranjan Kumar Nanda from the International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), New Delhi, India. In this study, the authors investigated how aging alters immune responses during tuberculosis infection and treatment. Tuberculosis remains one of the world’s deadliest infectious diseases, and older adults are particularly vulnerable due to immunosenescence, the gradual decline of immune function that occurs with aging. Despite the growing burden of tuberculosis in aging populations worldwide, most experimental models continue to rely on young adult animals that do not accurately reflect immune aging.

Using multiple age groups of C57BL/6 mice, the researchers examined how aging affects the body’s ability to control Mycobacterium tuberculosis during treatment with rifampicin and isoniazid (RIF-INH), two cornerstone anti-tuberculosis drugs. While young and older mice initially showed similar bacterial burden following infection, older mice demonstrated significantly delayed bacterial clearance in the lungs during the early phase of treatment.

Importantly, the study identified several age-associated immune abnormalities linked to impaired bacterial clearance. Older mice exhibited chronic inflammatory signaling, altered T cell responses, accumulation of T-follicular cytotoxic (TFC)-like cells, and evidence of mitochondrial dysfunction within immune cells. Proteomic analysis of splenic CD4+CD44+ T cells further revealed dysregulation of mitochondrial proteins involved in cellular metabolism and immune function.

“Collectively, these findings suggest that age-associated immune alterations may disrupt immunometabolic pathways, thereby contributing to the delayed Mtb clearance.”

The researchers also observed that older mice maintained elevated inflammatory cytokine levels and developed persistent lung inflammation even after treatment had begun. At the same time, key protective immune responses appeared functionally impaired, suggesting that aging may disrupt the balance between inflammation and effective pathogen control. Together, these findings suggest that age-related immunometabolic dysfunction may play a major role in the reduced treatment response observed in older hosts.

Notably, the study found that delayed bacterial clearance in older mice did not appear to result primarily from liver toxicity or impaired drug metabolism. Instead, the evidence suggested that age-related immune dysfunction itself was the dominant factor limiting effective bacterial elimination during therapy.

The paper further highlights the emerging importance of mitochondrial health in immune cell function during aging. The authors propose that targeting age-associated immunometabolic defects and mitochondrial dysfunction may represent a promising strategy for improving tuberculosis treatment outcomes in elderly populations.

Overall, this study provides new insight into why older adults experience poorer tuberculosis outcomes despite receiving standard therapy. As global populations continue to age, understanding how immunosenescence alters infectious disease responses may become increasingly important for the development of more effective treatment strategies and age-adapted therapeutic interventions.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206374

Corresponding author - Ranjan Kumar Nanda - [email protected]

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=isPD8ZmUjv8

Website - https://www.Aging-US.com​​

BUFFALO, NY — May 7, 2026 — A new #research paper was #published in Volume 18 of Aging-US on April 24, 2026, titled “The BHARAT study: a multi-modal, multi-omics investigation of aging signatures in the Indian population.”

The study was led by first author Suramya Asthana and corresponding author Deepak Kumar Saini from the Indian Institute of Science (IISc). The authors introduce the BHARAT Study (Biomarkers of Healthy Aging, Resilience, Adversity, and Transitions), India’s first large-scale, discovery-driven multi-omics cohort focused on understanding biological aging in the Indian population. The initiative was developed to address a major gap in aging research, as most existing biological age models and aging datasets have been derived primarily from Western populations.

The BHARAT study is a multi-center, cross-sectional observational cohort that integrates clinical, molecular, lifestyle, and environmental data from participants across diverse demographic groups in India. The initiative aims to enroll healthy volunteers spanning multiple age groups, with balanced rural-urban and sex representation. Biological samples—including blood, urine, stool, cheek swabs, and hair—will undergo extensive multi-omics profiling, including epigenomics, proteomics, metabolomics, lipidomics, metagenomics, and immune phenotyping.

“By generating interoperable, high-resolution data suited for mechanistic modelling and machine learning, BHARAT contributes a resource of global relevance that would be capable of refining universal models of aging biology while revealing novel, population-specific pathways that inform prevention and intervention strategies.”

The initiative uses a hub-and-spoke framework centered at the Indian Institute of Science, which serves as the central hub for biobanking, multi-omics analysis, computational integration, and AI-driven modeling. Clinical and community partners across India contribute participant recruitment, clinical assessments, and biological sampling, enabling the study to capture the country’s extraordinary genetic, environmental, dietary, and socioeconomic diversity.

A major focus of the study is the development of population-specific biological aging signatures and predictive models tailored to Indian populations. Researchers aim to identify biomarkers associated with resilience, frailty, and age-related decline while also recalibrating biological clocks that may not accurately reflect aging trajectories in non-Western populations. The study further seeks to establish standardized reference datasets and create scalable infrastructure for future longitudinal aging research in India.

Importantly, the BHARAT study combines untargeted discovery-based omics technologies with advanced artificial intelligence and machine learning approaches. By integrating molecular data with clinical and lifestyle information, the initiative aims to improve understanding of how biological aging is shaped by genetics, environment, nutrition, infection burden, and social determinants of health.

Overall, this study establishes a comprehensive framework for aging research in one of the world’s most diverse populations. By generating large-scale, population-specific biological datasets, the BHARAT initiative may help advance precision aging research, improve risk prediction models, and support the development of more personalized approaches to healthy aging and disease prevention.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206373

Corresponding author - Deepak Kumar Saini - [email protected]

Abstract video - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qH2AbitDURQ

Website - https://www.Aging-US.com​​