Metabolic HealthWhy Aging Fat Tissue Undermines Metabolism and How to Fix It
As we age, fat tissue loses the ability to create healthy new fat cells, while existing fat cells balloon in size. This imbalance forces fat into dangerous locations — around organs, in the liver, and within muscle — fueling insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, and heart disease. A new review identifies four interlocking molecular defects driving this process: disrupted gene regulators, sirtuin imbalances tied to NAD+ decline, structural changes in cell nuclei, and the buildup of senescent 'zombie' cells that inflame surrounding tissue. The review also ranks potential therapies by how close they are to clinical use, spotlighting senolytics, NAD+ precursors, and GLP-1-based drugs as the most immediately promising tools for restoring metabolic health in aging fat tissue.
