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Metastatic Aging

Meaning

Metastatic aging describes a conceptual model where cellular senescence, a state of irreversible growth arrest, propagates its detrimental effects throughout the body, akin to how cancer spreads. Senescent cells, while no longer dividing, remain metabolically active and secrete a complex mixture of pro-inflammatory molecules, proteases, and growth factors, collectively known as the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype or SASP, which negatively impacts neighboring healthy cells and distant tissues. This systemic dissemination of cellular dysfunction contributes significantly to the overall aging process and age-related pathologies.