Zombie Cells And Longevity: What You Need To Know

What Are Zombie Cells? 

Zombie cells, also known as senescent cells, are cells that have been damaged but don’t die off. Instead, they remain in the body and can negatively affect the cells around them. Zombie cells release compounds that cause inflammation and degrade the body’s tissues. 

Are Zombie Cells Harmful? 

Zombie cells can be harmful, but they’re not all bad. The benefits include helping repair broken bones, promoting wound healing and suppressing tumor growth. (1, 2) The negative impacts, however, are far-reaching. Zombie cells signal to other cells to increase inflammation, which can lead to diseases (3) such as 

• Parkinson’s
• Alzheimer’s
• Cancer
• Arthritis
• Cardiovascular disease
• Diabetes

How Are Zombie Cells Made? 

Zombie cells are made in response to cellular damage and stressors. (4) When a person is young, their body’s immune system is capable of getting rid of the zombie cells. As they age, however, this process becomes more difficult, causing zombie cells to remain in the body. 

Why Do Zombie Cells Change? 

Research shows that zombie cells undergo a change referred to as “cryptic transcription” because their ability to control gene expression decreases with time. (5) A normal cell loses its function, then can no longer divide and lives in standby mode. (6)

How Do Zombie Cells Relate To Aging? 

Zombie cells are related to aging, according to studies, because the body is more likely to create new zombie cells as you age. One reason is the shortening of telomeres, which are the protective caps at the ends of your chromosomes (3). When cells divide and you age, telomeres shorten. After they have shortened 40-60 times, they cannot divide anymore, which means the cell dies. 

Cell death is sped up by environmental damage, such as UV rays and exposure to free radicals (3). Furthermore, this same study showed that another part of the issue is what’s referred to as oncogenic stress, or the creation of cell replication that promotes tumor growth. 

Another issue is mitochondrial dysfunction, elevated blood sugar, and the accumulation of excess metals in the body, all of which damage cells and stop them from being able to reproduce. 

How To Get Rid Of Zombie Cells

If you want to get rid of zombie cells, there are a few different ways you can do so: 

• Senolytics. These compounds, including quercetin, ECGC (found in green tea) and dasatinib, have been shown to reduce zombie cells in animals. (7, 8) Senolytics actually target these senescent cells and make them die off. 
• Intermittent fasting. Going without food for a period of time can be incredibly healing. Clearing zombie cells from the body is just one of the many benefits of intermittent fasting! 
• Regular exercise. Physical activity has shown a connection to reducing zombie cells. Though studies haven’t yet determined exactly how, it likely has to do with the rejuvenation of tissues in the body and improving overall immune function. (9, 10)

Though zombie cells aren’t all bad, the negative effects of these types of cells shouldn’t be ignored. As research continues into zombie cells and their connection to longevity, being proactive in regular exercise, intermittent fasting, and beneficial senolytic compounds can help us all live healthier lives. 

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