Longevity & AgingPopular Senolytic Drug Combo Damages Brain Myelin in Mice
A new study published in PNAS found that dasatinib and quercetin (D+Q), one of the most widely used senolytic treatments, caused unexpected brain damage in mice. Researchers discovered that D+Q reduced myelination in the corpus callosum, the brain region connecting the two hemispheres, by stressing oligodendrocytes — the cells responsible for producing myelin. The damage resembled changes seen in multiple sclerosis. Importantly, the effect appeared in both young and old mice, suggesting it is not age-related. The cells were not killed but lost their ability to properly deliver and organize myelin around neurons. This raises serious caution flags for people currently using or considering D+Q as a longevity intervention, and highlights the need for more brain-specific safety research before widespread human use.
