A new class of drugs has been identified that dramatically slows the ageing process, alleviating symptoms of frailty, improving cardiac function and extending a healthy lifespan, according to a recent study.

The new research, published by the journal Aging Cell, uses the term “senolytics” for the new class of drug, which was tested on mice but is a step in the right direction toward developing treatments that can be given to humans to extend 'health-span' or to treat age-related diseases and disorders.

The researchers, from The Scripps Research Institute (TSRI), Mayo Clinic and other institutions, believe the drugs may make it possible – in the future – to delay, prevent, alleviate or even reverse multiple chronic diseases and disabilities as a group, instead of just one at a time.

Cells that have stopped dividing, ‘senescent’ cells, accumulate with age and accelerate the ageing process. The ‘health-span’ – time free of disease – in mice was enhanced by killing off these cells during the study.

The scientists were then faced with the question of how to identify and target senescent cells without damaging other cells. They found that, like cancer cells, senescent cells have increased expression of ‘pro-survival networks’ that help them resist programmed cell death.

Researchers found two compounds to selectively induce the death of senescent cells: the cancer drug dasatinib and quercetin – a natural compound sold as a supplement that acts as an antihistamine and anti-inflammatory.

“In animal models [mice] , the compounds improved cardiovascular function and exercise endurance, reduced osteoporosis and frailty, in addition to an extended health-span,” said researcher Laura Niedernhofer. “Remarkably, in some cases, these drugs did so with only a single course of treatment.”

In old mice, cardiovascular function was improved within five days of a single dose of the drugs. A single dose of a combination of the two drugs led to improved exercise capacity in animals weakened by radiation therapy used for cancer. The effect lasted for at least seven months following treatment. Periodic drug administration on mice with accelerated ageing extended their health-span, delaying age-related symptoms, spine degeneration and osteoporosis.

While both drugs have possible side effects and more testing is needed before use in humans, the scientists are positive, however – noting that treatment with senolytic drugs to clear damaged cells would be infrequent, which would reduce the chance of side effects.