Judith Campisi, Ph.D. on Cellular Senescence, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, Cancer & Aging

Dr. Judith Campisi is a professor of biogerentology at the Buck Institute for Research on Aging and a co-editor in chief of the Aging Journal. As an expert on cellular senescence, the discussion involves a lot of talk about aging and cancer, where senescence plays a very important fundamental role. What are some of the strategies we might use in the future to prevent senescent cells? What causes them in the first place? In this 1-hour long conversation, we discuss a great number of very interesting things including: Why diseases of aging, despite occurring in vary diverse tissue types, all begin to crop up simultaneously after 50 or 60 years of life. What the fundamental molecular processes of aging are and what some of the on-going research and general thoughts are surrounding these processes. What senescence is and the evolutionary biology explanation for why we have the mechanism of cellular senescence in the first place. The infiltration of immune cells into our tissues that occurs as a function of aging and the role of damaged or senescent cells in attracting these immune cells. The changes in gut permeability that happens with age and how that may increase our susceptibility to chronic, low-level inflammation. The role of senescent cells in cancer metastasis and progression. The clearance of senescent cells as a valid life extension strategy. How mitochondrial dysfunction, even in the absence of DNA damage, can cause cells to undergo senescence. The interesting observation that senescence from damage versus energy crisis (failed mitochondria) demonstrates a different and unique phenotype of cellular senescence. The effects prolonged fasting may have on the clearance of senescent cells. How periodic prolonged fasts might mimic some of the effects associated with an mTOR dampening drug like rapamycin. How the secretions of senescent cells can affect the regenerative capacity of stem cells. The practicality of a consumer available clinical assays for DNA damage and the challenge of assessing tissue-specific senescence without the use of invasive biopsy. The effect of so-called fasting mimetic compounds (e.g. hydroxycitrate, resveratrol & spermidine) on senescent cells. And believe it or not much more! Studies mentioned: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 Learn more about Dr. Judy Campisi. Did you enjoy this podcast? It was brought to you by people like you! Click here to visit our crowdsponsor page where you can learn more about how you can support the podcast for as little or as much as you like.