A review published in Frontiers in Cellular Neuroscience, with the participation of researchers from Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, analyzes how cellular senescence could connect biological aging with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
Although aging is the main risk factor for developing Alzheimer’s disease, the biological processes that explain this relationship are still not fully understood. The review synthesizes the available scientific evidence and proposes an integrative view of the role of cellular senescence in brain aging.
Cellular Senescence: A New Perspective for Understanding Alzheimer’s
The article, titled “Cellular senescence in brain aging and neurodegeneration: from molecular mechanisms to translational opportunities,” reviews the available scientific evidence on how cellular senescence—a biological process characterized by the permanent loss of the ability to divide in certain cells, which remain metabolically active and can influence their environment—can contribute to brain aging and promote processes associated with neurodegeneration.
“For years we have considered aging as the main risk factor for diseases like Alzheimer’s, but we still only incompletely understand what truly connects biological aging with neurodegeneration. In this review, we propose an integrative view of cellular senescence as a process that not only affects the brain but also involves constant communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body. Understanding these mechanisms could open new opportunities for developing more precise biomarkers and therapies capable of modifying the course of brain aging and neurodegenerative diseases.”
Yahveth Cantero-Fortiz, first author of the review.
The review suggests that brain aging should be understood as part of a global biological process. This perspective expands the traditional understanding of Alzheimer’s disease and highlights the interaction between aging, inflammation and neuronal vulnerability through the brain-body axis.
From Biological Aging to New Clinical Opportunities
Beyond synthesizing existing knowledge, this work invites us to rethink neurodegeneration from a broader perspective than just the brain. The authors emphasize that age-related changes affect different cellular and systemic compartments, whose interaction can influence the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases.
“This work invites us to rethink neurodegeneration from a broader perspective than just the brain. By placing cellular senescence at the heart of the dialogue between aging, inflammation, and neuronal vulnerability, the review helps us understand why diseases like Alzheimer’s cannot be explained solely by the accumulation of pathological proteins. The article highlights that age-related changes affect multiple cellular and systemic compartments, and that their interaction can influence the onset, progression, and possible modulation of the disease. This perspective is especially valuable because it connects the basic biology of aging with new clinical possibilities: improved biomarkers, more precise patient stratification, and therapeutic strategies aimed not only at brain pathology but also at the biological environment that fosters it.”
Xavier Montalbán, co-author of the review.
Research to Advance Our Understanding of Alzheimer’s Disease
This review, authored by Yahveth Cantero-Fortiz, Christopher Butler, Xavier Montalbán, and Mercè Boada, reflects Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona’s commitment to research that integrates basic science, clinical care, and knowledge transfer.
Although this is a scientific review and not an experimental study, the work synthesizes the available evidence and identifies new lines of research that can guide the development of more precise biomarkers, inform future therapeutic strategies, and contribute to more personalized medicine.
At Ace Alzheimer Center Barcelona, this type of research is part of our commitment to better understanding the biological mechanisms of neurodegenerative diseases and advancing toward earlier diagnosis, new therapeutic options, and a better quality of life for people with Alzheimer’s and other dementias.
