In Body’s Shield Against Cancer, a Culprit in Aging May Lurk

Until recently, few people gave much thought to senescent cells. They are cells that linger in the body even after they have lost the ability to divide. But on Nov. 2, in what could be a landmark experiment in the study of aging, researchers at the Mayo Clinic reported that if you purge the body of its senescent cells, the tissues remain youthful and vigorous.