Senescence is a response to stress in which damaged cells terminate normal growth cycles to prevent dysfunctional cells from reproducing. Senescence is a vital cellular process involved in embryonic development, wound healing, and cancer immunity; however, the accumulation of senescent cells is associated with diseases of aging such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, sarcopenia, and glaucoma.
The immune system has an effective process for clearing senescent cells; however, many lifestyle factors that are common in the modern world impair the immune system's ability to maintain a safe concentration of dysfunctional cells. Research suggests that the following environmental factors increase the burden of senescent cells:
- High glycemic diet: High blood sugar levels increased the rate of senescence in bone marrow-derived endothelial progenitor cells, a type of stem cell.
- **Sedentary...
