Cellular senescence: from pathogenic mechanisms to precision anti-aging interventions

For decades, research on cellular senescence has predominantly focused on the static identification of senescent cells using markers such as p16 and β-galactosidase, largely overlooking their functional heterogeneity across spatiotemporal dimensions. Accumulating evidence reveals that senescent cells are not merely deleterious pathological byproducts; rather, a subset plays indispensable physiological roles in embryonic development, wound healing, and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Based on these insights, this review summarizes the induction mechanisms of cellular senescence and the subsequent evolution of their functional phenotypes across diverse tissues. Consequently, we propose a novel paradigm for senescence management centered on “prevention first, followed by precision intervention.” This strategy involves, on one hand, mitigating environmental stressors and optimizing metabolism to intercept the onset of detrimental senescence at its source. On the other hand, it advocates for the functional profiling of existing senescent populations via single-cell omics and lineage tracing, enabling the targeted clearance of “maladaptive” components that drive pathological phenotypes while preserving “beneficial” elements essential for physiological stability. Such a systematic intervention, grounded in the classification of induction factors and functional subtypes, offers a safer and more efficacious trajectory for the prevention of age-related diseases and the extension of healthspan.