Could a class of drugs that clear aging cells also help treat Alzheimer’s disease? A recent study, featured as the cover for Aging (Volume 17, Issue 3), titled “Differential senolytic inhibition of normal versus Aβ-associated cholinesterases: implications in aging and Alzheimer’s disease,” suggests they might—and with remarkable precision.

Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurological disorder that gradually steals memory, independence, and a person’s sense of identity. A defining feature of Alzheimer’s is the buildup of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques—sticky protein clumps that interfere with communication between brain cells. This disruption is closely linked to changes in a group of enzymes called cholinesterases, especially acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE). These enzymes normally play a vital role in regulating neurotransmitters critical for memory, learning, and cognitive function. In Alzheimer’s, however, their behavior changes significantly, particularly when they interact with Aβ plaques.

The Study: Exploring Senolytics for Alzheimer’s Enzyme Inhibition

A research team from Dalhousie University in Canada looked into whether senolytic compounds—a class of drugs that eliminate damaged, aging cells often referred to as “zombie” cells—could also target the harmful forms of cholinesterase enzymes found in Alzheimer’s disease. Their goal was to see if these compounds could selectively inhibit the disease-associated versions of AChE and BChE, without affecting the healthy forms that are essential for normal brain function.

Full blog - https://aging-us.org/2025/04/senolytic-compounds-show-promise-in-targeted-alzheimers-treatments/

DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/aging.206227

Corresponding author - Sultan Darvesh - [email protected]

Video short - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CJQFpG9Jn6Y

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Keywords - aging, cellular senescence, β-amyloid, acetylcholinesterase, butyrylcholinesterase, cholinesterase inhibitors

About Aging-US

The mission of the journal is to understand the mechanisms surrounding aging and age-related diseases, including cancer as the main cause of death in the modern aged population.

The journal aims to promote 1) treatment of age-related diseases by slowing down aging, 2) validation of anti-aging drugs by treating age-related diseases, and 3) prevention of cancer by inhibiting aging. (Cancer and COVID-19 are age-related diseases.)

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