The synergistic benefits of metformin and senolytics on lifespan and healthspan
Aging represents the leading shared risk factor for a variety of age-related diseases. Most older adults develop multiple chronic conditions at some point in their lives, resulting in poor health, declining function and morbidity. Efforts to compress morbidity period and increase healthspan represent a major priority for aging research. Currently, several interventions such as metformin and senolytics have been shown to increase lifespan in aged mice, as well as improve tissue function at certain ages. In this study, Dr.Xu proposes to test whether the combination of metformin and senolytic treatment can result in longer lifespan and compress morbidity further in aged mice than metformin alone or senolytics alone. He will assess physical function monthly for each mouse, which allows him to better determine their healthspan. This project will likely lay the foundation for clinical trials to improve lifespan and healthspan in older adults.
