"Zombified" cells in blood vessels may play a key role in the development of metabolic diseases, like diabetes, with age, a new study finds. And slaying these zombie cells could be a promising approach for future treatments.
Cells usually become senescent — a state in which they permanently stop dividing but linger in the body — as a stress response. These senescent cells may have some useful functions; for example, some play a key role in wound healing. But senescent cells are also known to contribute to age-related diseases, as more and more build up in the body over time.
