What is the Origin of Senotherapeutic Compounds?

The term is a portmanteau combining "senescence" (biological aging) and "therapeutic," arising from the molecular biology of aging research in the early 21st century. The discovery that senescent cells accumulate with age and contribute directly to age-related pathology established the rationale for developing these targeted interventions. This represents a frontier in longevity medicine.

What is the Mechanism of Senotherapeutic Compounds?

Senolytics operate by exploiting the specific pro-survival pathways that senescent cells develop to resist apoptosis, effectively forcing these cells into programmed cell death. Senomorphics work by modulating the Senescence-Associated Secretory Phenotype (SASP), reducing the release of inflammatory cytokines, proteases, and growth factors that damage adjacent healthy tissue. By clearing or neutralizing these dysfunctional cells, senotherapeutics aim to restore tissue microenvironments and promote regenerative capacity.

Senotherapeutic Compounds ∞ Area

Senotherapeutic Compounds

Meaning

Senotherapeutic compounds are a class of pharmacological or nutritional agents specifically designed to target and eliminate senescent cells—cells that have stopped dividing but remain metabolically active and secrete pro-inflammatory factors. These compounds are broadly categorized as senolytics, which induce apoptosis in senescent cells, or senomorphics, which alter their destructive secretome. The clinical application is aimed at mitigating the chronic inflammation and tissue dysfunction associated with biological aging.