Higher testosterone in mice thanks to senolytic combo

What's the news: A senolytic combination increased testosterone levels and sperm concentration in aged mice.

Why should we believe it: This news is based on a study published only last week by a team of scientists from the US and Brazil. The treatment involved a combination of two senolytic compounds, dasatinib and quercetin.

In case "senolytic" doesn't mean much to you, let me explain by introducing a bit more longevity jargon:

Senescent cells - these are cells that have stopped reproducing and have entered a kind of grumpy old age. They hang around, secreting inflammatory chemicals, complaining and spoiling life for cells around them.

Senolytics - these are drugs that target and remove senescent cells. Senolytics are one of the most promising avenues for achieving bodywide rejuvenation.

Why this news is a big deal: The combination of dasatinib and quercetin has already shown promise as a senolytic. The current study contributes to that, and encourages further research into this possible rejuvenation therapy in humans.

At the same time, the current study also found that dasatinib and quercetin did not improve sperm motility and fertility in aged mice. That's a general issue with senolytics — their impact can be patchy, because not all senescent cells are the same, not all senolytic drugs affect all tissues in the body.

So what specifically can you do now: Dasatinib is already approved for human use — as a leukemia drug. In other words, you probably can't get it, and it's not clear you would want to.

Quercetin on the other hand is a flavonoid — a compound found in many foods, including apples, onions, and berries. You can choose to supplement with it, or simply get it through a varied, plant-rich diet. In fact, recent research suggests that higher dietary quercetin, even without dasatinib, does make for longer youthspan — and in humans, not mice.