Therapeutic interventions for aging: the case of cellular senescence

•Senescent cells contribute to aging and age-related diseases.•Reducing the secretory phenotype of senescent cells (SASP) has beneficial effects.•Elimination of senescent cells ameliorates a number of pathologies.•Alternative strategies to interfere with senescence are under development.

Organismal aging is a multifactorial process characterized by the onset of degenerative conditions and cancer. One of the key drivers of aging is cellular senescence, a state of irreversible growth arrest induced by many pro-tumorigenic stresses. Senescent cells accumulate late in life and at sites of age-related pathologies, where they contribute to disease onset and progression through complex cell and non-cell autonomous effects. Here, we summarize the mechanisms by which cellular senescence can promote aging, and we offer an extensive description of current potential pharmacological interventions for senescent cells, highlighting limitations and suggesting alternatives.