Vivienne R. Stanhope
Why do our bodies grow old not only because cells fail, but because some cells refuse to leave? The Persistent Cell reveals the strange biology of senescent cells: damaged, aged cells that stop dividing but do not die, lingering in tissues and sending out inflammatory signals that can help turn normal aging into disease. Readers curious about longevity, medicine, and the hidden logic of the aging body will find an eye-opening guide to one of biomedicine’s most exciting frontiers.Moving from the discovery that cells have a built-in limit to the inflammatory 'chemical megaphone' known as the SASP, this book shows how a cellular safety mechanism can become a source of arthritis, heart disease, frailty, and even Alzheimer’s-related decline. Along the way, readers will encounter the paradox of senescence in cancer, learn how scientists identify these elusive cells in living tissues, and see why the dream of clearing them with senolytic drugs is both promising and perilous.Clear, vivid, and grounded in real evidence, The Persistent Cell treats cellular senescence not as hype but as a developing scientific story with enormous stakes. It offers an accessible path into a complex field while keeping its critical edge, helping readers understand not just what might transform aging medicine, but what proof will be needed before hope becomes treatment.
