An omega-6 fat that tells worn-out cells their time is up

As we age, some cells retire but refuse to leave. These senescent cells linger, stirring inflammation linked to heart and metabolic disease — and researchers have found they share an Achilles' heel. An international study with the University of Eastern Finland and Kuopio University Hospital, published in Cell, found senescent cells run low on DGLA, an omega-6 fatty acid. Restoring it — or blocking the enzyme that consumes it — pushed the worn-out cells into a self-destruct process called ferroptosis while healthy cells were largely spared. In aged mice, DGLA by mouth reduced senescent cells and eased several age-related signs, including inflammation in fat and liver tissue. In human data from a Finnish obesity-surgery study, a gene variant that helps DGLA accumulate was linked to lower senescence markers. No human treatment exists yet — but the target is now named.

SDG 3 · Good health and well-being — Mechanism: tech innovation