Cellular senescence: six decades of discovery and reinvention.

Cellular senescence has evolved from a simple aging marker to a complex regulator of tissue homeostasis and a target for therapy, with key discoveries over six decades.

• Why it matters: Understanding senescence is crucial because it influences aging, tissue repair, and age-related diseases, yet its diverse roles and mechanisms remain incompletely understood.
• What they did: The authors review six decades of research, including molecular insights, mouse models, and technological advances like single-cell analysis, to trace the field’s major conceptual shifts.
• The result: This comprehensive overview highlights how emerging tools and therapies are advancing senescence research, enabling targeted interventions to improve health and treat age-related conditions.