The most recent issue of Journal of the American Medical Association includes a landmark review highlighting innovative strategies to slow the biological aging process, an emerging approach with significant potential to prevent or delay multiple chronic diseases at once, one of the most pressing challenges in modern medicine today.
The review , co-authored by Steven R. Cummings, M.D., a senior physician-scientist at Sutter Health's Sequoia Center for the Science of Aging and internationally recognized leader in aging research, and led by Stephen B. Kritchevsky, Ph.D., of Wake Forest University School of Medicine, calls for a shift in medical thinking from treating one disease at a time, such as heart disease, cancer or kidney disease, to targeting the biology of aging itself. This approach, known as geroscience, aims to extend "healthspan," the number of years people live free from disease and disability.
Using geroscience to predict care outcomes
"By 2050, the number of U.S. adults over age 65 will grow by more than 30 million," says Dr. Cummings. "If we continue treating one disease at a time, the U.S. health system will be overwhelmed. A geroscience approach could help people live longer, healthier lives by delaying or preventing multiple conditions at once."
Geroscience focuses on a person's biological age, measured by biological properties such as epigenetics, instead of one's calendar age. Dr. Cummings and other scientists at Sutter's San Francisco Coordinating Center (SFCC), led by Brian Chen, Ph.D., are testing geroscience principles in the care of Sutter patients. They are working to determine whether biological age, derived from fundamental pathways of aging, better predicts medical outcomes including hospitalization over one's calendar age.
Testing existing, approved therapies to preserve health with aging
The review describes several promising therapies currently being studied, including metformin, a decades-old diabetes drug that may slow multiple aging-related processes; GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide, used for diabetes and obesity, which may mimic the effects of calorie restriction linked to longer life; and senolytics, a class of drugs that selectively clear senescent "zombie" cells that contribute to chronic inflammation and tissue damage.
While none of these therapies are yet U.S. FDA-approved to directly target aging, the authors note clinical trials are underway and could pave the way for new standards of care that preserve overall function and independence.
"Our research at the SFCC is studying pathways that can be modulated to potentially slow aging and promote a healthy lifespan for patients at Sutter and around the world," says Dr. Cummings.
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Research at Sutter Health
Sutter Health conducts hundreds of clinical trials as well as digital and health systems studies across its not-for-profit healthcare system dedicated to providing comprehensive care throughout California. Committed to advancing innovative patient care, healthy outcomes and community partnerships, Sutter Health is pursuing a bold new plan to reach more people and make excellent healthcare more connected and accessible. Currently serving more than 3.5 million patients, thanks to our dedicated team of more than 57,000 employees and clinicians, and 12,000+ affiliated physicians, with a unified focus on expanding care to serve more patients.
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