Obesity-Induced Cellular Senescence Drives Anxiety and Impairs Neurogenesis

-expressing senescent cells can be eliminated, and senolytic drugs dasatinib and quercetin. We found that obesity results in the accumulation of senescent glial cells in proximity to the lateral ventricle, a region in which adult neurogenesis occurs. Furthermore, senescent glial cells exhibit excessive fat deposits, a phenotype we termed "accumulation of lipids in senescence." Clearing senescent cells from high fat-fed or leptin receptor-deficient obese mice restored neurogenesis and alleviated anxiety-related behavior. Our study provides proof-of-concept evidence that senescent cells are major contributors to obesity-induced anxiety and that senolytics are a potential new therapeutic avenue for treating…

• AF
  American Federation for Aging Research
• AO
  Academy of Medical Sciences

  Award: SBF003\1179
• NI
  National Institutes of Health

  Awards: NRCDP K12, AG13925
• MR
  Medical Research Council

  Awards: MR/L016354/1, MR/P020941/1
• BA
  Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council

  Awards: BB/K017314/1, BB/S006710/1, BB/I020748/1, BB/F010966/1, BB/H022384/1