Senescent cell elimination modifies features of Alzheimer’s disease in 3xTg-AD mice

Cellular senescence has been associated with neurodegenerative disease and clearance of senescent cells using genetic or pharmaceutical strategies (senolytics) has demonstrated beneficial effects in mouse models investigating individual disease etiologies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, it has remained unclear if senescent cell clearance in a mouse model exhibiting both plaque and tau pathologies modifies the disease state (3xTg). Here, we show that treatment with senolytics (ABT263 (navitoclax) or a combination of dasatinib and quercetin (D+Q)) or transgenic removal of p16-expressing cells (via INK-ATTAC) reduced microgliosis and ameliorated both amyloid and tau pathology in 3xTg mice. Using RNA sequencing, we found evidence that synaptic dysfunction and neuroinflammation was attenuated with senescent cell removal. Unfortunately, these beneficial effects were not seen with short-term senolytic treatment in mice with more advanced disease. Overall, our results further corroborate the beneficial effects senescent cell clearance could have on AD and highlight the importance of early intervention for treatment of this debilitating disease.