Longevity & AgingAntioxidants Selectively Clear Senescent Muscle Cells by Targeting mTOR Signaling
Researchers publishing in Aging Cell have uncovered a mechanism by which antioxidants can selectively remove senescent cells in muscle tissue. Senescent cells — often called zombie cells — accumulate with age and drive inflammation and tissue decline. The key finding is that antioxidants work by targeting mTOR signaling, specifically mTORC1, which governs how cells detect and respond to nutrients. In aging muscle, mTORC1 signaling becomes dysregulated, contributing to sarcopenia and cellular dysfunction. By restoring or modifying this nutrient-sensing pathway, antioxidants appear able to selectively push senescent muscle cells toward clearance. This adds a new mechanistic dimension to how antioxidants influence aging beyond simple free-radical neutralization.
